Re: Inside power supplies: Where are the shocks?

[wsmith@NOSPAM.ctron.com (Will Smith)]

On Sat, 06 Jun 1998 16:47:44 -0500, Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
wrote:

|>     Slurping electrolytic caps is definitely bad form. Lots of
|>batteries in a string can be hazardous, too. Years ago my dad brought
|>home a bunch of used 7.5V batteries-- the kind with neat screw-on
|>terminals. So, naturally, I started connecting them in series to see how
|>much Real voltage they would put out. Somewhere around battery 17 or so
|>I reached into the rats nest of connections to straighten things out--
|>maybe holding bat 17's free lead with my teeth. It's hard to be sure
|>because there was a sudden 'gap' in time and I was on the floor feeling
|>turned inside-out with a really strong metallic taste in my mouth.  

ain't the voltage that you should really worry about.  it's the AMPS.
(granted, anyone that knows what Ohm's Law is will tell you that
voltage is a factor, but bear in mind that static shocks can carry a
couple thousand volts, but because there's no real amperage, there's
no real damage.)

that having been said, i'll bet it was a while before you started
putting wires in your mouth again, eh?  <g>

---
William Smith
#include <disclaimer.h>
Remove the obvious when sending e-mail...

Bait: pyramid@ftc.gov  net-abuse@nocs.insp.irs.gov