> There have been a dozen postings on this subject, the last being > USMA 24594, but none have mentioned the question of safety. I have > suffered several shocks of 120 V, noticeable but not lethal. I have > also had one or two shocks of 240 V, and they were memorable. I > remember having seen several reports of deaths from 240 V, but none > from 120 V. I spent 1952-54 in India. In particular I remember the > death of the Ambassador of Nepal to India. In winter in Delhi he > reached out of his bath to switch off the electric heater in the > room and was electrocuted..
I fail to see how this anecdote, even if typical, proves that 240V is unsafe. This is a death by stupidity. It can also be easily prevented by wiring the outlet in question through a GFCI (= ELCB, for those on the other side of the pond).
