so now i get electrocuted!

varunkapahi · #1 03-20-2010, 10:29 AM

it was my first lesson at the school, am playing along with my teacher and then we decided to switch basses. soon as i touched his bass (and was about to pass mine to him) i get this insane electric shock!

the worst part is am stuck to it and my body is acting as a conductor to the electricity which is passing through me

i remember my whole body was shaking like crazy, especially the shoulders and arms as the current must have been passing through both my hands giving me the seizures. i think i screamed and tried to say something like "pull the plug or get it off me" or something idk. the shock made me jump off my chair and i fell to the ground. the skin on my hands, where ever it was touching the strings got burnt but thankfully its only very few tiny blisters. i think it lasted over a minute or so but i dont know exactly.

after my teacher was able to pull the plug out or something he told me he got the shock too but not as long or intensely i did as he was able to let go his bass somehow quickly maybe because i was holding both of them. he said he was totally lost at first when it happened and didnt even know what plug to pull but am really thankful that he was able to act and saved me and himself too i think

it was probably the worst experience ever for me, worse than getting mugged because maybe it was longer and physically a lot more intense. mentally am terrified too i think. my grandad is a doc, he said am very shaken but besides that am ok. he gave me a tranquilizer med and a pain killer to help me handle the muscle pain all over my upper body better. i dont know if there could be anything more wrong with my body.

thanks for reading i just had to share it with you guys. i really do need to figure out why it happened too but am too exhausted to think much. it just feels so terrible, i just cant get why such nasty **** keeps happening to me.

edit: its the feeling of helplessness which is making me sick. there was nothing i could have done yet again or maybe i could have done something only if i could think.

bassteban · #2 03-20-2010, 10:32 AM

tl;dr- but *electrocuted* means to be actually killed by electricity. Are you dead?

FL Knifemaker · #3 03-20-2010, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

tl;dr- but *electrocuted* means to be actually killed by electricity. Are you dead?

I think his typing fingers survived

Having done a LOT of welding over the years as well as my own electrical wiring, I've been ZAPPED many times. After a while you build up a tolerance. Right now, I could probably take a direct lightning strike without any problem.

Glad your OK

varunkapahi · #4 03-20-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

tl;dr- but *electrocuted* means to be actually killed by electricity. Are you dead?

does it? am sorry i cant think right. whats the appropriate word?

varunkapahi · #5 03-20-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

I think his typing fingers survived

Having done a LOT of welding over the years as well as my own electrical wiring, I've been ZAPPED many times. After a while you build up a tolerance. Right now, I could probably take a direct lightning strike without any problem.

Glad your OK

yeah i've read you build tolerance right now my forearms are crying but am not able to sleep or anything.

tplyons · #6 03-20-2010, 10:42 AM

Back in the day, I was testing some semiconductors and while not paying attention, I grabbed the wrong end of the test probes... gave myself one hell of a shock. One probe in each hand and the current made my muscles lock up so I couldn't let go.

Needless to say, luckily a good friend was helping me test and pulled the probe out of my hand. It's a scary experience, I'm glad you're okay.

burk48237 · #7 03-20-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

I think his typing fingers survived

Having done a LOT of welding over the years as well as my own electrical wiring, I've been ZAPPED many times. After a while you build up a tolerance. Right now, I could probably take a direct lightning strike without any problem.

Glad your OK

I suspect that lightning would hit you and run right back up into the heavens with its tail between its legs whimpering.

bassteban · #8 03-20-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

does it? am sorry i cant think right. whats the appropriate word?

I think *shocked* is the proper term. I'm also glad you're alright- I've been shocked & it is a weird feeling.

varunkapahi · #9 03-20-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Back in the day, I was testing some semiconductors and while not paying attention, I grabbed the wrong end of the test probes... gave myself one hell of a shock. One probe in each hand and the current made my muscles lock up so I couldn't let go.

Needless to say, luckily a good friend was helping me test and pulled the probe out of my hand. It's a scary experience, I'm glad you're okay.

its the tranquilizer med i think, atleast am not running the incident over and over again in my head and making myself shudder with fear. i am really scared though, i felt like a puppet or a zombie with my arms vibrating like a chicken and me falling to the ground

kesslari · #10 03-20-2010, 10:48 AM

It is very scary. Getting a "pop" shock for an instant is scary. Getting one where it continues for a period of seconds is very, very scary.

I am glad you're OK.

Especially with household wiring in India (based on your experience), I'd say that going forward, don't grab another electric instrument while still holding yours.

Pilgrim · #11 03-20-2010, 10:49 AM

Definitely time to check the electronics and grounding on both instruments involved, and to work through the amps to the outlets. SOMETHING is dangerously wrong!

You're not having a good 2010 so far - so don't get killed before it gets older!

KrisH · #12 03-20-2010, 10:54 AM

That is a terrible feeling, having electricity shoot through your chest. Once at a gig I was back by the soundboard, had one hand touching the desk lamp and pointed at a control on the panel with the other. A huge spark jumped from my finger to the board! It burned a hole in the frame and blew the circuit breaker. Just a quick and intense jolt, but it took several shots of schnapps to get calmed down again . . .

varunkapahi · #13 03-20-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kesslari

It is very scary. Getting a "pop" shock for an instant is scary. Getting one where it continues for a period of seconds is very, very scary.

I am glad you're OK.

Especially with household wiring in India (based on your experience), I'd say that going forward, don't grab another electric instrument while still holding yours.

yeah but i did that instinctively and i think i might happen to just switch instruments without thinking about such a crazy possibility you know

kesslari · #14 03-20-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

yeah but i did that instinctively and i think i might happen to just switch instruments without thinking about such a crazy possibility you know

Not after this, you won't

varunkapahi · #15 03-20-2010, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

Definitely time to check the electronics and grounding on both instruments involved, and to work through the amps to the outlets. SOMETHING is dangerously wrong!

You're not having a good 2010 so far - so don't get killed before it gets older!

yeah the thing is none of us have had something like this happen before so i dont know what could it be, basses, electrical wiring, the amps. i cant figure out why did the mcb didnt trip or some circuit breaker didnt act if there was any installed though i dont know about that either

Quote:

Originally Posted by KrisH

That is a terrible feeling, having electricity shoot through your chest. Once at a gig I was back by the soundboard, had one hand touching the desk lamp and pointed at a control on the panel with the other. A huge spark jumped from my finger to the board! It burned a hole in the frame and blew the circuit breaker. Just a quick and intense jolt, but it took several shots of schnapps to get calmed down again . . .

Quote:

Originally Posted by kesslari

Not after this, you won't

lol yeah

MakiSupaStar · #16 03-20-2010, 11:12 AM

If this is a ploy to get us to send you an acoustic bass, I'm just gonna go ahead and say good luck.

knumbskull · #17 03-20-2010, 11:15 AM

dude you're not having much luck lately. i would basically not leave the house ever again.

varunkapahi · #18 03-20-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

If this is a ploy to get us to send you an acoustic bass, I'm just gonna go ahead and say good luck.

damn you! are you a psychologist!? maybe now i'd need to post pictures of the blisters on my hands

varunkapahi · #19 03-20-2010, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knumbskull

dude you're not having much luck lately. i would basically not leave the house ever again.

only if my house had half the world in it

EBodious · #20 03-20-2010, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

damn you! are you a psychologist!? maybe now i'd need to post pictures of the blisters on my hands

no pix, no shock blisters....

sounds like a crash course in life lessons. do you remember signing up for that? maybe the shock made you forget?

glad you are alrite. and keep your hands on your own instrument!

...stick to the dutch rudder