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  3. Electronics / Elect Eng

mettre à l'équipotentielle

English translation: bond ... to a/c ground

09:30 Jan 28, 2021
French to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng / equipotentiality
French term or phrase: mettre à l'équipotentielle
These are the instructions for replacing a part of an aircraft.

The first instructions include ensuring the unit is switched off, not touching pins and:
'Mettre l'opérateur à l'équipotentielle avion avant de toucher [à la pièce]'

I wish to check my solution to ensure the operator's safety:
'Ensure that the operator is equipotential with the aircraft before touching [the part]'

My doubts are because most technical literature talks of equipotential zones in which operators can work.

xxx
Thomas Miles
France
Local time: 03:36
English translation:bond ... to a/c ground
Explanation:
or 'ensure ... is bonded / tied to a/c ground'

This isn't about operator safety when working on live system — on the contrary, it is to make sure the operator is correctly grounded to the a/c, in order to protec the avionics from ESD (electrostatic discharge) — qv for other termnology options

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Note added at 8 hrs (2021-01-28 17:35:22 GMT)
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Asker: no, not really! What betrays the layman here is the use of 'equipotential', in a way that it is not normally used in EN, in this sort of context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2021-01-28 19:03:12 GMT)
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Asker: yes, materially identical to my own suggestion, though I felt my slightly more formal version was perhaps more applicable to the context and register.

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Note added at 1 day 2 hrs (2021-01-29 11:55:02 GMT)
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Asker: No, no, and thrice no!

The problem here is your slavish and dare I say simplistic instance on wanting to sue 'equipotential', which, although technically accurate, wouldn't normally be used this way in this kind of phrase.

All it means is that the operator must be matinained at the same potential as the aircraft, which will be regarded as a local 'ground'; this is to make sure that the operator does not become charged with static electricity, at voltages where a discharge could easily damage fragile electronic components; this is a very common (and dangerous!) problem in avionics, so much so that we made a special video on this subject for the RAF!

As I said before, the way you are seeking to express it betrays a layman's lack of "feel" for what "sounds right".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 2 hrs (2021-01-29 11:56:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oh, and by the way, this is not a text about psychology, so we'd probably not say 'bonded with', but more likely 'bonded to' — unless this person has a seriously unhealthy affection for their baby!
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 03:36
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2bond ... to a/c ground
Tony M
4potential equalization
Kartik Isaac


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
potential equalization


Explanation:
I think this is the term used when working on live systems.

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=...

https://infosys.beckhoff.com/english.php?content=../content/...

Kartik Isaac
Switzerland
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: But this isn't about live systems
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
bond ... to a/c ground


Explanation:
or 'ensure ... is bonded / tied to a/c ground'

This isn't about operator safety when working on live system — on the contrary, it is to make sure the operator is correctly grounded to the a/c, in order to protec the avionics from ESD (electrostatic discharge) — qv for other termnology options

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2021-01-28 17:35:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Asker: no, not really! What betrays the layman here is the use of 'equipotential', in a way that it is not normally used in EN, in this sort of context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2021-01-28 19:03:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Asker: yes, materially identical to my own suggestion, though I felt my slightly more formal version was perhaps more applicable to the context and register.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 2 hrs (2021-01-29 11:55:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Asker: No, no, and thrice no!

The problem here is your slavish and dare I say simplistic instance on wanting to sue 'equipotential', which, although technically accurate, wouldn't normally be used this way in this kind of phrase.

All it means is that the operator must be matinained at the same potential as the aircraft, which will be regarded as a local 'ground'; this is to make sure that the operator does not become charged with static electricity, at voltages where a discharge could easily damage fragile electronic components; this is a very common (and dangerous!) problem in avionics, so much so that we made a special video on this subject for the RAF!

As I said before, the way you are seeking to express it betrays a layman's lack of "feel" for what "sounds right".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 2 hrs (2021-01-29 11:56:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Oh, and by the way, this is not a text about psychology, so we'd probably not say 'bonded with', but more likely 'bonded to' — unless this person has a seriously unhealthy affection for their baby!

Tony M
France
Local time: 03:36
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 2116
Notes to answerer
Asker: Chris: surely my 'Ensure that the operator is equipotential with the aircraft' is essentially identical to your suggestion?

Asker: Dear Tony, would you agree that Chris's suggestion is acceptable?

Asker: Perhaps then we could satisfy everyone with 'Ensure that the operator is equipotentially bonded with the aircraft ...'?

Asker: I do appreciate your explanation and attempt to keep me from going astray.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  chris collister: or simply "ensure that the operator is at the same potential as the a/c"
34 mins
  -> Thanks, Chris!
agree  Johannes Gleim: 'local ground' is correct for an airplane, but we do not know the kind of electricty a.c. or d.c. This specification is not required and may be wrong. I propose to omit it. // Thank you!
3 days 23 mins
  -> You have misunderstood: in aviation, 'a/c' stands for 'aircraft' — not the same as 'ac' for 'alternating current'!
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