6 ms·

When it comes to lethality, time is also an important factor. A very short burst of high current is not lethal. So if you really want to be correct, it's elect

by LeonM 8y ago

When it comes to lethality, time is also an important factor. A very short burst of high current is not lethal. So if you really want to be correct, it's electrical charge that kills. edit: typo

dcbadacd 8y ago
If you take time into account then it's power dissipated that matters. But again, with high-frequency AC the skin effect comes into play and you also probably won't die as easily as you would with same power being dissipated by DC going trough you. It's simply not as simple as just one sentence.
magduf 8y ago
No, this isn't true either. The way that most people die of electrocution is from heart fibrillation, not from having their arms blown off by extreme voltage and current levels. It doesn't take much current to cause your heart to fibrillate; only about 100mA across your heart. So getting a shock that conducts that much current through your foot or hand probably won't hurt you, but getting a shock that conducts that current across your heart can. In short, it's more complicated than anything being said here.
- MrBuddyCasino 8y ago
  Even if the heart muscle doesn't kill you, you can still die from the chemical imbalance caused by subjecting to your whole body to electrolysis. So if you got shocked, visit a hospital immediately! You can still die hours later.
  - magduf 8y ago
    Citation needed. We were taught about electrical safety and its effect on the human body in college EE classes, and there was nothing said of this.
    - MrBuddyCasino 8y ago
      Fair enough. I've read in an interview of a hospital staff doctor, not sure if I can dig up the source. Edit: so the way this works if current is flowing through your body your blood is undergoing electrolysis, and as a consequence your Kalium balance can get disturbed. This can result in severe heart rythm issues, even hours after the shock. A doctor can test this and fix it with an infusion. Not my original source, but says the same. Should be understandable with Google Translate: https://derstandard.at/1343744823640/Wenn-scheinbar-harmlose-Stromschlaege-das-Leben-gefaehrden https://derstandard.at/1343744823640/Wenn-scheinbar-harmlose...
- fpgaminer 8y ago
  And it apparently only takes 10mA before you can't physically let go of AC, thus screwing you anyway. Imagine being stuck there, slowly electrocuted to death. bigclivedotcom did a video where he actually tests this ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5R-KBa18ME https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5R-KBa18ME EDIT: Perhaps I should make clear: he quite literally runs 240V mains from one hand to the other, slowly reducing the series resistors until he can't physically let go anymore (at a bit above 10mA for him). Live, on camera. Neat! (He doesn't die; saved by a safety foot pedal). (Also check out his other videos, including the recent ones about the vintage household appliance that cooks hot dogs in 60 seconds by running 120V directly through them!)
- IshKebab 8y ago
  He is right though - time is important. That's why RCDs work.

by LeonM 8y ago

When it comes to lethality, time is also an important factor. A very short burst of high current is not lethal. So if you really want to be correct, it's electrical charge that kills. edit: typo

dcbadacd 8y ago

If you take time into account then it's power dissipated that matters. But again, with high-frequency AC the skin effect comes into play and you also probably won't die as easily as you would with same power being dissipated by DC going trough you. It's simply not as simple as just one sentence.

magduf 8y ago

No, this isn't true either. The way that most people die of electrocution is from heart fibrillation, not from having their arms blown off by extreme voltage and current levels. It doesn't take much current to cause your heart to fibrillate; only about 100mA across your heart. So getting a shock that conducts that much current through your foot or hand probably won't hurt you, but getting a shock that conducts that current across your heart can. In short, it's more complicated than anything being said here.

MrBuddyCasino 8y ago
Even if the heart muscle doesn't kill you, you can still die from the chemical imbalance caused by subjecting to your whole body to electrolysis. So if you got shocked, visit a hospital immediately! You can still die hours later.
- magduf 8y ago
  Citation needed. We were taught about electrical safety and its effect on the human body in college EE classes, and there was nothing said of this.
  - MrBuddyCasino 8y ago
    Fair enough. I've read in an interview of a hospital staff doctor, not sure if I can dig up the source. Edit: so the way this works if current is flowing through your body your blood is undergoing electrolysis, and as a consequence your Kalium balance can get disturbed. This can result in severe heart rythm issues, even hours after the shock. A doctor can test this and fix it with an infusion. Not my original source, but says the same. Should be understandable with Google Translate: https://derstandard.at/1343744823640/Wenn-scheinbar-harmlose-Stromschlaege-das-Leben-gefaehrden https://derstandard.at/1343744823640/Wenn-scheinbar-harmlose...
fpgaminer 8y ago
And it apparently only takes 10mA before you can't physically let go of AC, thus screwing you anyway. Imagine being stuck there, slowly electrocuted to death. bigclivedotcom did a video where he actually tests this ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5R-KBa18ME https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5R-KBa18ME EDIT: Perhaps I should make clear: he quite literally runs 240V mains from one hand to the other, slowly reducing the series resistors until he can't physically let go anymore (at a bit above 10mA for him). Live, on camera. Neat! (He doesn't die; saved by a safety foot pedal). (Also check out his other videos, including the recent ones about the vintage household appliance that cooks hot dogs in 60 seconds by running 120V directly through them!)
IshKebab 8y ago
He is right though - time is important. That's why RCDs work.