ok why am i not dead...

Bellator · Aug 23, 2007, 04:37 AM

Admittedly, I was rushing. In my haste to plug a set of desktop speakers in ( Dell A215 speakers to be exact) I didn't notice that my thumb was on one of the prongs. Since the prongs on the transformer/adapter plug for the speakers are not sized it was just luck that my thumb was on the prong that was going into the neutral (larger) prong slot.

As I went to plug in the adapter, as soon as the prong touched the socket I felt a moderate zap... but I didn't black out or anything.

On the transformer it says the output is 500mA.. so I'm guessing this is what flows out of the neutral prong? I was under the impression it only takes about 100mA to stop the heart, so I'm wondering why exactly I'm not dead, just another story in the paper about natural selection weeding out the idiot genes...

OmegaRED · Aug 23, 2007, 04:42 AM

Clearly something went wrong, please repeat the process and log your findings

Zelig · Aug 23, 2007, 04:44 AM

I've done that before, was trying to plug in a lamp in the dark by feel, holding a finger on the prongs, I managed to plug it in while holding the prongs, and was treated to a nice shock and a big spark.

Never really bothered checking if I should have died or anything...

Necrosis · Aug 23, 2007, 04:56 AM

Long story short your body has resistance.

Maddogg6 · Aug 23, 2007, 06:59 AM

current needs to also take a path that goes through your heart to stop your heart - the typical result of an electrocution...

a grounded foot and touching voltage with a hand - will make a path through your heart... but say, from a finger to another finger on the same hand - will just hurt... thats not to say the 'surprise' could not cause a heart attack - it wouldn't be the electricity that causes it.

edit:
Also - the neutral - usually tied to ground at the fuse panel - can inductively pick up a fairly harmless voltage that can cause discomfort - but *usually* not death.

This can be proven with a high impedance voltmeter - like a DVM - measure between GND and neutral - Ive seen as much as 75V - but its current capability is very low.

Matth · Aug 23, 2007, 05:54 PM

If the output is 500mA at 12v, the input (assuming 100% efficiency) would be 50mA at 120v.

So if you got a "tickle" from the neutral prong, due to the live one contacting first, the combination of the transformer impedence (higher if no load is drawn) and your own resistance resulted in an an uncomfortable jolt, rather than a fatal one.

blown503 · Aug 25, 2007, 12:48 AM

I believe you have super natural powers just like Superman, Spiderman and such. I whish you would be around when I have to walk down that dark alley some rainy night.

Judas · Aug 25, 2007, 10:26 AM

electricity will take the shortest path if can, and if there is no grounded point on you, it'll likely jump around your finger and into the socket anyways.

H3X4D3C1M4L · Aug 30, 2007, 07:10 AM

Not enough voltage to do you in. I'm not a doctor but I remember reading that your body can take high currents at extremely low voltages and really high voltages at extremely low currents (an Xray is extremely high voltages at really really really low currents)

Judas · Aug 30, 2007, 07:25 PM

Amperage kills, you can have a low voltage .... extremely low.. and fry yourself due to the amperage..... i think 0.15amps will stop your heart cold.

Voltage, shit you can survive several thousand volts....... just that it increases the chances of frying you silly as it increases.

swimtech · Sep 3, 2007, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Necrosis

Long story short your body has resistance.

Ever pinched a pair of meter probes between the thumb and forefinger of each hand - come on, admit it! ok, I've done it...

And if you've ever stuck a 9v battery on your tongue, you know that little jewel can deliver some current.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Sep 6, 2007, 04:56 AM

I've been electrocuted on a retired us destroyers fuse box, on a neighbors main power box,
just to name a few. Come down to luck I think...

I wonder If you get electric used and it stops your heart. long as your conscious you could
always electrocute you self again as a jump start? I why not? If your dead other wise not
much to loose...

Judas · Sep 6, 2007, 06:24 AM

lol...true

Aug 23, 2007, 04:42 AM	#2
OmegaRED Relapsed Gamer Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ottawa , Canada Posts: 5,625 Rep Power: 171 System Specs	Clearly something went wrong, please repeat the process and log your findings __________________ E Penis Specs: <------------- See System Specs

Aug 23, 2007, 04:44 AM	#3
Zelig HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 3,187 Rep Power: 69 System Specs	I've done that before, was trying to plug in a lamp in the dark by feel, holding a finger on the prongs, I managed to plug it in while holding the prongs, and was treated to a nice shock and a big spark. Never really bothered checking if I should have died or anything... __________________ --

Aug 23, 2007, 05:54 PM	#6
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,410 Rep Power: 91 System Specs	If the output is 500mA at 12v, the input (assuming 100% efficiency) would be 50mA at 120v. So if you got a "tickle" from the neutral prong, due to the live one contacting first, the combination of the transformer impedence (higher if no load is drawn) and your own resistance resulted in an an uncomfortable jolt, rather than a fatal one. __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread

Aug 25, 2007, 12:48 AM	#7
blown503 HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: S. Indiana Posts: 573 Rep Power: 57	I believe you have super natural powers just like Superman, Spiderman and such. I whish you would be around when I have to walk down that dark alley some rainy night. __________________

Sep 6, 2007, 04:56 AM	#12
The_Neon_Cowboy HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,009 Rep Power: 90 System Specs	I've been electrocuted on a retired us destroyers fuse box, on a neighbors main power box, just to name a few. Come down to luck I think... I wonder If you get electric used and it stops your heart. long as your conscious you could always electrocute you self again as a jump start? I why not? If your dead other wise not much to loose... __________________

Aug 23, 2007, 04:56 AM	#4
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 129 System Specs	Long story short your body has resistance.

Aug 23, 2007, 06:59 AM	#5
Maddogg6 Tail Razer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bernyurass, AZ - USA Posts: 4,027 Rep Power: 50	current needs to also take a path that goes through your heart to stop your heart - the typical result of an electrocution... a grounded foot and touching voltage with a hand - will make a path through your heart... but say, from a finger to another finger on the same hand - will just hurt... thats not to say the 'surprise' could not cause a heart attack - it wouldn't be the electricity that causes it. edit: Also - the neutral - usually tied to ground at the fuse panel - can inductively pick up a fairly harmless voltage that can cause discomfort - but usually not death. This can be proven with a high impedance voltmeter - like a DVM - measure between GND and neutral - Ive seen as much as 75V - but its current capability is very low.

Aug 30, 2007, 07:10 AM	#9
H3X4D3C1M4L DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,794 Rep Power: 0	Not enough voltage to do you in. I'm not a doctor but I remember reading that your body can take high currents at extremely low voltages and really high voltages at extremely low currents (an Xray is extremely high voltages at really really really low currents)