can you use 240 volt extension cable on a building site

[blade1jet2]

I say if there is no 110volt there then you can use 240volt if in a low risk area ie in a area were there isnt many people working and you are only running it a small distance ie less than 4 metres.

My mate says you cant use it on building sites but i have been on sites were 240 volts is allowed

[alavahalf]

If there is one person on site, that's too many as far as Health and Safety are concerned.

It is legal to use 240 volt equipment with circuit breaker RCD , but nearly all companies cover their back (and their insurance companies ) by only allowing 120 volt equipment on their sites .

[mrs_nordling]

The reason for 110-volt portable equipment on building sites is because the transformers are what is known as 'centre tapped'. This means that the voltage to earth is only 55 volts whereas the voltage to earth on a standard mains operated drill is 230. It's not the voltage that kills, it's the current, but as voltage is pressure, the more pressure there is the greater the current that can flow dependant on your resistance (less if raining and you're wet). Remember: "It's the volts that jolts but the mill's (milliamps, and you only need 50 of the little blighters) that kills". The HSE would have no qualms in prosecuting anyone who uses mains voltage equipment on a building site should an accident happen.