8
If the V-Watch user bends over from the
waist to reach towards an energized high
voltage terminal, the warning distance
may also be significantly reduced. In
both cases, the high conductivity
of the body acts as a shield to
conduct the electric field
around the V-Watch.
The V-Watch measures only
the strength of the electric field.
It cannot directly measure distance
to the source of the electric field
such as an energized conductor. The
higher the voltage, the stronger the
field and the greater the alarm distance. The reverse is also true; the V-Watch may alarm
due to the very close proximity of low voltage when the user walks past a typical factory
machine such as a running drill press, an office computer terminal or a desk lamp. The
V-Watch may even alarm if it is placed up against a typical 120 volt wall outlet.
Electrically conductive objects located underneath power lines can appear to the V-Watch
to be live. A metal fence or a growing hedge can cause a distortion of the electric field
under these lines and result in high electric field strength near the ground. The V-Watch
will provide an early warning of high electric fields, but not all fields are directly caused by
nearby energized objects. To prevent the V-Watch from issuing too many false alarms, it
should not be used or worn in typical office or
factory environments where all the equipment
is low voltage and there is no danger of
contacting energized high
voltage conductors.
As an additional protection against
false alarms from transient voltages,
the V-Watch has a built-in time delay
and may take up to one second to
emit an alarm warning of high voltage.
For this reason, a user running towards
an energized high voltage source may
find the warning distance reduced.
Fence May
Appear
To Be "Live"
Reduced
Warning
Distance
