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Old March 26th, 2008, 19:28   #27
mcguyver
 
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Northern Alberta
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azathoth View Post
I believe 3 amps is lethal. Amps = death factor volts = ouch factor
4-10 mA is lethal. It causes defibrillation, that is often unrecoverable. Higher currents will stop the heart, but it can be restarted. But current has to get to the heart first. Current always follows the path of least resistance, and this usually leads it away from internal organs, but not always.

I'm an electrician and I can tell you that 12 amps off the neutral current on a 120/208V system hurts, hurts bad, but I'm still here. A fellow I went to school with was killed by the 15A 120V circuit in his house, using a pressure washer with no GFI protection. If you know what you're doing, even 347V is not likely to kill you. People die when they're careless, or untrained doing jobs they should not be doing.

Don't even get me started on allowing $8 maintainance men to change 347V ballasts in discharge lighting. We have to install disconnects for them to do it safely, so that someone doesn't have to pay $60/hour for a qualified electrician to do it. It's Code now, nationwide.
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