Interlocks

[Jess_a]

Hello All,
I have spent quite sometime now understanding what are electrical interlocks, but could not find an appropriate answer. Could anyone help me understand what are interlocks and why do we need them in an electric car?

[AxelRipper]

Beer please.

http://www.ehow.com/info_12027...locking-methods.html (http://www.ehow.com/info_12027642_electrical-interlocking-methods.html)

[Warpspeed]

Electrical interlocks are provided to remove all dangerous power, or prevent equipment from operating whenever a cover or access door is opened.

A common familiar example might be the door on a domestic microwave oven. When you open the door, the microwave powers down.

It's usually just a case of fitting some kind of door switch, or devising a fail safe system so that equipment cannot suddenly start up and harm you, while you are poking around inside.

[Jess_a]

Thanks everyone for reply, so if we employ the shutdown circuit with the relays etc, can we say that the interlocks are installed?