Weird - what happened to a post I saw for a fraction of a second Bob - something about a bathroom plasma???
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A shocking experience!
- Thread starter baddarryl
- Start date
You couldn't be more wrong. The problem is when the current crosses the chest, particularly the left side. It can be from arm to arm, right leg to left arm, head to left leg, etc. The current interferes with the electrical impulses that regulate the beating of the heart muscle. It will flat stop your heart.
I used to work on 110v quite a bit and got shocked a lot. I did most of this work on live wiring. Actually, you can get quite used to it. I mean, it's no fun but you don't let it ruin your day.
One day I saw a loose cable on the stage which was a concrete pad. Barefoot no less. Reached down and picked it up and WHAM. You can't see because your eyes are rattling. Your jaw slams shut with unbelievable force. Every muscle is totally tensed including your hand holding the conductor. Your whole body burns and your ears have this low-pitched buzzing sound at extemely high volume. I finally got rid of it after about two seconds and I don't know how.
Electricity is a force of nature. Respect it because when you don't, one second you're here and the next second you're not.
My understanding is that it can take as little as 50mv going through your heart to stop it. From what I've heard, when working on am amp a smart technician will put his left hand behind his back to minimize the risk of the current running through one arm, the chest then out of the other arm.
~S
~S
Oh this is an old wive's tale... I hate this sort of stuff, the point of this is you cant do squat with one hand tied behind your back... This is a joke. A smart technician will keep both hands available to work on any project but keep his fingers off the hot spots.
Thats like saying a machinist will keep his finger in his nose to avoid ripping it off in his MILL... BOB
Axtually, I belive that Keith Relf was electrocuted in his basement. A tragedy nonetheless.
I once sat in at friends wedding being held in a community center. The regular bassist doesn't sing. The song started, I stepped up to the mic and an arc jumped about 2 inches and locked on to my teeth. My hands were welded to the strings, the whole community center lights dimmed while I was being shocked. It took every bit of determination I had to pull myself away from the mic and the house lights then went back up to normal. I turned to the band and said this is an instrumental. Nobody was aware of the shock I received.
Now I check ALL outlets with a tester before plugging anything in and also use a wireless. Everyone needs a socket tester in the gig bag. I discovered bad circuits at the last gig we had.
Now I check ALL outlets with a tester before plugging anything in and also use a wireless. Everyone needs a socket tester in the gig bag. I discovered bad circuits at the last gig we had.
Say WHAT? You were cordless and got lit up? I think there was a thunderstorm and a lightning strike nearby, especially to dim the lights. I'd believe your vision dimmed but not the lights... Unless it was something outside... Maybe you were being talked to by the almighty and were speaking a different language?
I used to play barefoot, that was my deal, fringed bell bottoms, tank top, about a 5" BAND BUTTON down by my foot and bare feet... Hey early 70's Lets just say I knew where the polarity was at.
BOB
+1 about the outlet tester, I never leave home without it. I have found bad outlets in a lot of places.
dont be wet
a monolayer, that is a single molecular layer of water on your skin will turn that 110 Volt 1 Amp circuit into a killer, and once you are clamped up there is nothing you can do
this layer is most likely unseen and is present from: sweat, high humidity, i just took a slug from that frosty beer glass, or a wide variety that will leave anyone saying: gee that didnt seem like enuf to kill him
that one hand behind the back trick is not a wives tale, it is not the way to go, but it does present a layer of psuedo safety, you cannot do any work this way, but at least you wont be clamped as the live circuit finds ground
and once you are clamped up, you are out of control, and when you see someone clamped up, do not touch them, remove the circuit by throwing a breaker or pulling a plug
my own close to death experience was at 5kV at 1 Amp, i am just lucky to be here
thank you ed and jr.
a monolayer, that is a single molecular layer of water on your skin will turn that 110 Volt 1 Amp circuit into a killer, and once you are clamped up there is nothing you can do
this layer is most likely unseen and is present from: sweat, high humidity, i just took a slug from that frosty beer glass, or a wide variety that will leave anyone saying: gee that didnt seem like enuf to kill him
that one hand behind the back trick is not a wives tale, it is not the way to go, but it does present a layer of psuedo safety, you cannot do any work this way, but at least you wont be clamped as the live circuit finds ground
and once you are clamped up, you are out of control, and when you see someone clamped up, do not touch them, remove the circuit by throwing a breaker or pulling a plug
my own close to death experience was at 5kV at 1 Amp, i am just lucky to be here
thank you ed and jr.
that one hand behind the back trick is not a wives tale, it is not the way to go, but it does present a layer of psuedo safety,
I do it all the time. How many hands do you need to poke around for loose wires, or hold a scope or voltmeter probe?
I do it all the time. How many hands do you need to poke around for loose wires, or hold a scope or voltmeter probe?
My friend, if you keep thinking this way it's eventually going to kill you.
Shorting out electrolytic caps is a very good way to damage them by deforming the plates. A better way is to use a 1KΩ 10W resistor to gently discharge the caps. As has been opined, working with one hand is hand to do and can be more dangerous. Knowledge is what keeps you safe and even then accidents can happen.
Paul
While you are correct in you assertion that TVs and monitors can store 25KV this ONLY applies to units using CRTs. Here the final anode, basically a capacitor when taking into account the grounded shielding, can store this kind of voltage. However no amplifier used for musical instruments runs at anywhere near this level.
Paul
its current that kills you, not volts.
you can have very low voltage but a high current and you will die.
you can HUGE voltage and very low currents and just get shocked.
you can have very low voltage but a high current and you will die.
you can HUGE voltage and very low currents and just get shocked.
I disagree. When I had high voltage training with Lucent we were told to only use on hand (right)to stop the current from flowing from on arm to the other. Current will travel the path of least resistance to ground.
This is correct. I regularly deal with voltages in excess of 35k in the 2 amp range. One hand on a live circuit will blow you back. Hurts, but you'll probably live. Both hands on the circuit will cause your muscles to contract and pull you in. The current running through your body will cook your insides. RIP.
Just because some idiots at Lucient fell for this wive's tale and decided to teach techs to work with one hand and the other tied behind their backs does NOT MAKE THIS RIGHT.
I've been an electronics and electrical guy since the beginning of time. My first job was as a tech, and I spent a bunch of years in all sorts of HV scenarios. Then while i was learning to be an airline pilot I worked as an electrician and worked with all sorts of residential and commercial applications.
As a building automation engineer we saw two of our contractors COOKED in a 460V 3 phase 1500 Amp panel explosion at Miami Airport.
Im a licensed broadcast engineer and also electrician. I collect licenses apparently. Ham Radio, Airline transport pilot, I'd be a licensed bass guitarist if that was required too. Licensed to kill, na just kidding there.
If you know what you are doing, and treat each circuit with respect, and I repeat know what you are doing...
If you know what the circuit is and that you NEVER reach in and touch things, you can safely work on electronic equipment. Under no circumstances should a layman pop open a tube amp and start prodding around.
NOW, this is not to say, do you got a firm hold on the chassis with your left and have a metal file in your right and start probing and you will be the next dead guy in the family.
You will get lit up. The home built power supply for one of my pieces of gear has a 5KV 2 amp power supply in it. I treat it with great respect and use two hands. Heck one would just keep me from falling over into it!!!
Yes that is solid core ignition wire for HV leads. This would power a real bass guitar rig. Just the PS weighs 175#
BOB
you can do a full test on what will kill, i dont remember how its done, but everyone in my electronics class has to do it in the beginning of the year, my teacher used to electricute students as a demo, or lesson but parents didnt like so now he fries a hot dog in class
