EDF | g3vjm

EDF - formerly Seeboard 1985 Now UK Power Networks

Many years ago (mid 80's) when EDF were Seeboard they came to me to design and build some portable interactive displays to teach children the dangers of electricity. One of the points they wanted to put over was that some electricity can jump quite big gaps.

I worked in conjunction with Bob Spooner of Modelscape who built all the models

I devised displays where models showed scenes - one inside a house and the other an outside scene. Each scene had a number of possibly dangerous situations, including overloaded powerpoints, using an electric fire in a bathroom, unplugging electrical devices whilst holding on to a kitchen tap. The outside model showed flying a kite near power lines, broken cover on a street lamp, ladders near overhead lines and many others.

In use the operator discussed the scene and asked a student to point out a dangerous situation using a 'magic' wand. When the tip of the wand was brought close to the danger spot (but not touching it) the inbuilt alarms went off - flashing lights and siren sounds for a few seconds.

The system used an electronic signal in the tip of the wand that was picked up by receiver loops built into the danger spots in the model.

When Seeboard were taken over by EDF we modified the models and added the dangers of gas to the system, including the smell of leaking gas.

Later that division of EDF was transferred to UK Power Networks and everything had to be rebranded again.

These models are still in use after nearly 30 years. (2018)

The outdoor model still in use today (2017)

The indoor model

A newspaper clip of the time showing the model in use in a safety exhibition

The electronics used a very early microprocessor, and was one of the first programs i had written

When EDF saw the displays built for Netwotk Rail they asked if we could buld a similar display for them with the Pepper's ghost heads appearing and a sound track so they could work as a 'stand alone' teaching display.

We designed a street scene showing several dangerous situations. When the start button was pressed the sound system started describing each dangerous situation. As each description reached its climax and disaster ensued, electrical flashes occured followed by the the main lights fading down and the ghostly heads fading up. Then the voice of the victim described what had happened to them and how they had thought they were safe before they were struck down.

There was also an optional quiz to check if the message had been understood.

4 of these displays were built 10 years ago and they are all still in use today. (2018)

Unlike the original displays for Seeboard they were quite large and heavy now being a 2 man lift, so they are mainly used at safety exhibitions and handled by an exhibition contractor.