I didn't want to admit this, but I managed to give myself a one
handed shock from the outlet I was wiring (2 actually before I got mad
enough to stop doing it). I was wiring in some new outlets in my basement.
Started from the physically farthest not yet powered outlet working my way
back towards the first powered outlet. It was in the basement and getting a
little dark. The outlets would be on the same breaker as the ceiling light.
I didn't want to run upstairs and turn off the breaker (and the light) for
this one connection. Promised myself I would be careful. I had the powered
outlet in one hand and the new wiring in the other. It was 12 AWG stuff and
a little stiff so when I tried to put it into the posts I had to use some
pressure. When the wire was a little resistant I unconsciously tighten my
grip on the outlet and that put my hand across the hot and neutral terminals
and I got a bit of a shock. Slow to learn, I simply reaffirmed my promise to
be careful then I proceeded to repeat exactly everything including getting
the shock.
The shock was through my hand to my knees on a concrete floor - as
far as I can tell. (Well that and to my dignity) Decided to finish up the
next day when I could turn off the power and still see what the heck I was
doing. As Forest Gump would say "Stupid is as Stupid does"
Gary
From: Peter L. Tarver [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, December 02, 2004 1:50 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Is one-handed electrical shock possible?
An anecdote:
My eldest daughter, at an early age, did place a conductor
in a 120V outlet at her grandparents home. As a result of
the shock she received, she stopped breathing. Fortunately,
my father-in-law was nearby and was able to restart her breathing by only
shaking her. If someone were not so alert, she might not be with us, today.
Should someone have been more attentive and known what she
was up to? Should the house have been "child-proofed" in
the first place? Was the house "child-proofed" afterward?
You bet, to each.
The current path was most likely through her hand, then
torso, then legs (I don't know if she was sitting, kneeling
or squatting or else, when she was shocked) to the carpet
and some presumptive earth, however tenuous it might be
thought of.
Some comments:
It's important to keep in mind that electric shock body impedance models not
only include capacitance, but also resistance. The precise values are
dependent on the current
path(s) involved, moisture content of contacted surfaces and skin, etc.
Pete Perkins or Rich Nute can illuminate the variables better than I.
While I have received shocks from both 120V and 240V (from a split-phase
source) and can attest that 240V packs a significantly greater wallop,
anyone who doubts that 120V electric shocks can be deadly should think
again.
Regards,
Peter L. Tarver, PE
[email protected]
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To post a message to the list, send your e-mail to [email protected]
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