Voltage and the Shocking effect on the Human Body

thor

I didn't know you were an EE. How many times you been shocked as a result of your profession?

sdp

I actually work in the electronics field so there's not much above 12 VDC... but I have been shocked a few times when working on the electrical wiring at home. A few of those oops situations where you thought the power was turned off at the breaker but it wasn't. I have rewired the home at the ranch where I grew up. There were times when working up in the attic where I've worked on a few hot wires. After crawling arond in an attic, I was damned if I was going to crawl out to trip the breaker downstairs. In those situations if I didn't have my meter handy, I've flicked my finger across the wire to see if it was hot (120 VAC only). Of course I made sure I wasn't touching ANYTHING else. You get the quick little vibration feeling in your finger but that's about it. Then if the power HAS to be off.. I've just shorted out the two wires. It's easier than crawling back out downstairs to the breakers/ LOL

JapanFan14

well excuse me! you don't either so bite me =P

grvtykllr

Iv used the direct short to trip breakers many times myself, I thought I was the only one that lazy, glad to know Im not.I have used my fingers many times to test a lead when I couldnt reach my meter. Just always use the back of your hand.

Dantek

hey i called you back when you called on my birthday but you never called me back so hush!and whilst it may have not been intended for me thanks. i knew OF voltage and amps and current just not the details

dontask

Someone in my family was shocked with a 650V Bus bar and lost his finger :| and my dad was shocked by a 350, He wasn't hurt but not very happy :p But this is off topic but it does compare to the voltage shocking effect on the human.

JapanFan14

well then I guess you called a couple hours too late so =Pyou know you liked my little message though. admit it!

SteveA

Actually, the rules of physics are always as true as they are (e.g., Newton's laws, given whatever their accuracy is are always true). I know someone who graduated from MIT with an EE PhD, and she wrote her dissertation on the effect of electrical current through the human body. It's a very complex thing, but residual damage can be caused by electrical shock, things that may not show up until later. Also, the impedance match of the load (the part of the person's body through which the current flows) to the circuit affects how much energy the person absorbs from the jolt.It seems weird that some people survive direct lighning hits while others are fried, but it's not through the intercession of an unseen hand that it happens.