Anyone who understands electricity can tell me why I'm not dead?

[SsupernovaE]

Water is very high resistance. So most of the power was probably exiting through the cord's ground as it was closer, or neutral.

As for overhead vs underground, I'm glad to say my lines are overhead, otherwise I would not have been able to get fibre internet. 😀 They are not doing underground plant as it's too expensive and lot of logistical nightmares. Most of the existing underground copper is also very very old and if the air dryer at the CO fails they often get lot of water in them and there are lot of issues. Underground would only be better if cities had networks of manholes that you can walk through, so it would make maintenance/upgrades possible.

Meh, Verizon dug up half of Virginia installing Fios. Thank god they did otherwise who knows how long it would be until I could get my current speeds (150/65).

 

[Rubycon]

Do AFCI's protect against shock as well? Like a GFCI?

Edit- Boy are those AFCI's expensive! I have another question. Do AFCI's detect arcs from the line in or just what's pluged into them. I have aluminum wiring and I don't trust the crap. I see they also sell AFCI breakers. Our breaker box should be updated. Not only that but most outlets here have no damn ground! My computer is plugged into a none grounded outlet and I touched the PSU inside the case and the whole computer shut down. Thought I lost the MOBO or the PSU!

Both GFCI and AFCI do *not* protect against electric shock! The current required to trip a GFCI will still feel unpleasant but you won't receive a dangerous shock.

AFCIs will interrupt the circuit in the event an arc is detected. They check for the presence of a broadband RF "chirp" on the line which would be produced by arcing when contacts break the circuit, for example. A faulty snap switch, for example that won't separate the contacts quickly enough or leaves them too close together. A worn out socket with loose contacts can also produce an intermittent connection which will heat up under heavy load and eventually arcing that could start a fire. This is the condition that AFCI will spring into action.

They can also nuisance trip from the spark produced if an appliance is unplugged (ex. vacuum cleaner) while running. Some APFC in computer PSUs when turned on have also been the source of nuisance tripping as well.

As far as aluminum wiring is concerned, there is no real need to worry, as long as it's properly sized for the load and (most importantly!) the junctions/terminations are properly done, it's fine. The homeowner often will cause an issue by using the incorrect receptacle OR not implementing a proper Al-Cu pigtail scheme when using Cu only switches, sockets, etc.

In any case if you have a two wire system (no ground) you should get it updated ASAP.

 

[edro]

You only used 1 hand, so most of the current flowed through your finger only.
If your feet or other hand had been grounded, you could have died.

Always only use 1 hand and make sure you are wearing shoes if you are messing with wiring. BTW, you don't need thick soled shoes... 100-230v is not enough to arc through any normal shoes and probably even socks.

 

[edro]

Here are some awesome pictorials the illustrate electrocution paths.

http://tstbob.blogspot.com/2009/05/picture-pages-crazy-1933-german.html

 

[PottedMeat]

Here are some awesome pictorials the illustrate electrocution paths.

http://tstbob.blogspot.com/2009/05/picture-pages-crazy-1933-german.html

lolol

WARNING: Just because it looks like fun to pee on, doesn't mean it is. And stop using a backhanded grip while grabbing your junk. It makes you look silly.

 

[Papa Hogan]

lolol

They DO look fun to wee on.

 

[SNC]

I've spoken to guys that dig who have been electrocuted and lived to tell the tale.

Not to be picky but the word electrocuted means to die by or from electricity. You can not be electrocuted and live.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

 

[yh125d]

I forget why but one day I had a running PSU open on my desk at work. My buddy asked if it was safe to have it open like that and I said yeah, just don't touch anything. Except the heatsinks, you can touch those. They only get a bit warm. Then I demonstrated by touching one of them. It didn't seem to hit me immediately, but after about 1/2 second I could feel something up with my arm. Felt different than any shock I've had before, almost like my whole arm was being vibrated super fast, like I might imagine it would feel to be microwaved or something

Weird, I still don't know what was up with that

My dad was working on an electric fence once that he thought was turned off, until he stood up from kneeling and got the top wire right across his forehead. 10k volts. I bet that was fun

 

[Red Squirrel]

I was talking to an electrician who deals with 600 volts regularly. I asked him if he's ever been shocked, and what it feels like. He said "it makes you sit down". The way he said it was humorous especially for a fairly serious guy. I bet it only happened once, too. lol.

Only thing I've ever felt was 120v and I hope to keep it that way. Well technically I've felt millions of volts, through static electricity, but not the same thing. I think it's the amps you feel more, but higher voltages just increase how many amps your body will draw (if the source is capable of it, static is not).

 

[John Connor]

As far as aluminum wiring is concerned, there is no real need to worry, as long as it's properly sized for the load and (most importantly!) the junctions/terminations are properly done, it's fine. The homeowner often will cause an issue by using the incorrect receptacle OR not implementing a proper Al-Cu pigtail scheme when using Cu only switches, sockets, etc.

Yeah, I found out that certain receptacle are made for AU wiring, but they are expensive! I stuck in a new ceiling light in and used a chemical that you rub into the wires with sand paper on both connections.

In any case if you have a two wire system (no ground) you should get it updated ASAP.

That will cost a fortune!

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

GLASS IS AN INSULATOR. That's what they used to use pre ceramic on telephone poles.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/200988201603?lpid=82

Warning. I am drunk. PM me if you need a better answer.

FWIW: I have a BSEE and don't bother with breakers when switching light fixtures in ceilings. On occasion, I get hit by 120V .... and in rare circumstances it could kill me ..... but I don't worry much about it. 120 VAC is not dangerous. Start dealing with 480 VAC and you would be easily dead.

 

[Red Squirrel]

GLASS IS AN INSULATOR. That's what they used to use pre ceramic on telephone poles.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/200988201603?lpid=82

Warning. I am drunk. PM me if you need a better answer.

FWIW: I have a BSEE and don't bother with breakers when switching light fixtures in ceilings. On occasion, I get hit by 120V .... and in rare circumstances it could kill me ..... but I don't worry much about it. 120 VAC is not dangerous. Start dealing with 480 VAC and you would be easily dead.

I've always been tempted to go grab those off the old telephone lines seen by train tracks on the highway. I bet most of them have already been taken by now and probably a huge fine if caught. Often these lines are practically touching the ground too so a small step ladder would do.

 

[natto fire]

Both GFCI and AFCI do *not* protect against electric shock! The current required to trip a GFCI will still feel unpleasant but you won't receive a dangerous shock.

As far as aluminum wiring is concerned, there is no real need to worry, as long as it's properly sized for the load and (most importantly!) the junctions/terminations are properly done, it's fine. The homeowner often will cause an issue by using the incorrect receptacle OR not implementing a proper Al-Cu pigtail scheme when using Cu only switches, sockets, etc.

In any case if you have a two wire system (no ground) you should get it updated ASAP.

5 mA will usually do it on the GFCIs, which shouldn't be any worse than a static shock depending on the path. Static shocks have the advantage of high voltage so that the skin effect causes very little muscle contractions.

I notice a LOT of DIYers and even so-called professionals do not realize that NoAlOx is very important at aluminum cable terminations. Many devices have marked that they are not suitable for Al or 75° conductors just to avoid the problem of improper installation. I never see copper clad wire in commercial applications, but assume it is out there and possibly being improperly installed.

Considering there are lots of homes with knob and tube and fused circuit interruption, I think most people put off upgrading their electrical systems because of the large expense involved. I can see why it is so pricey, because my forays into residential wiring made me really appreciate that I work in commercial settings.

Contrary to popular belief, water isn't *that* conductive. I spilled an entire cup of water into a power strip. The things plugged in sat there and ran just fine.

True, but it is an excellent solvent, and depending on what is dissolved in it, can actually become a fairly good conductor. Did you spill tap water onto it, or bottled? Again it is about the path too, you probably did not have a pool form to join the hot to a ground path. Try submerging the same powerstrip in water and you would almost certainly be dealing with a ground fault.

 

[lozina]

How are you sure you aren't?

Yup this is the correct answer... I Found the OP: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y

 

[bignateyk]

Household 110 isn't that powerful. I've gotten shocked several times by it.

 

[z1ggy]

Hell 12V could kill you. Why don't you stand in a puddle barefoot on your lawn while you touch a nice shiny metal wrench to the negative terminal on your battery while your car is on.... -_-

 

[Dr. Zaus]

posting in a necro thread

 

[Fern]

Shrug

I can only tell you my experience from working at the cable co. Above ground lines were unreliable at best. Below ground never had problems unless some stuck something into them.

Could very well be the opposite for power lines. But I can't see why.

Depends where you live.

In a high lightning area underground lines can suffer a lot of damage. Lightning can travel over a hundred miles underground and it can severely damage those underground cables' insulation and any equipment attached to them.

Fern

 

[Puppies04]

OP don't listen to all this pseudoscience, the simple fact of the matter is that turtles are the best insulators known to man. This fact is covered up by the government because they want all the turtles for themselves.

 

[natto fire]

OP don't listen to all this pseudoscience, the simple fact of the matter is that turtles are the best insulators known to man. This fact is covered up by the government because they want all the turtles for themselves.

Perfect example of ignoring the thread title and trolling the thread anyways. I guess it is "cute" but electricity will kill you despite how smart ass the response you get from a forum is.

 

[Fern]

So I have a turtle in a 30 gallon tank, about 10 gal or so of water is in it. I have an electric filter that liked to spontaneously stop working, so first I went about my business and cleaned the tank for like a half hour, my hands were submerged almost the entire time. When I finally got around to the filter, I took it out of the water and went through my usual routine of slapping the shit out of it until it finally turns back on. Except it wasnt turning on, so as I'm inspecting it I get this super painful electric shock when I accidentally touched the part where the base of the power cord fits into the filter. I could see that the cable was just hanging off by a thread, with bare wire showing and everything.
-snip-

I did something similar a few yrs ago, except I was 'standing' in the tank.

One of the big Gulf of Mexico hurricanes made it up this way and dumped a ton of rain on us. The crawl space (large enough to stand upright in parts) became flooded. Now the problem is that many of my home's appliances are down there; e.g., the furnace, the hot water heater and the water pump control. So, I waded down there to put in a portable pump to pump it out.

Well, after wading in a step or two I realized the water was so deep that the power lines to all the equip I mention above were submerged. They are not waterproofed either.

Point is I wasn't electrocuted. It must be that clean (rain) water is a poor conductor. I.e., the scenarios in movies aren't always accurate.

Fern

 

[Papa Hogan]

Not to be picky but the word electrocuted means to die by or from electricity. You can not be electrocuted and live.

Back to your regularly scheduled program.

I was corrected earlier in this thread. Thank you for caring about not getting electrocuted. Just imagine I wrote a synonym.

Let's get serious. Didn't you get my meaning by the context?

 

[rudeguy]

I was corrected earlier in this thread. Thank you for caring about not getting electrocuted. Just imagine I wrote a synonym.

Let's get serious. Didn't you get my meaning by the context?

I understood and until this thread I didn't know that meant a fatal shock.

Don't mind the grammar nazis.


Now lets argue more about how wrong you are about below ground utilities :awe:

 

[Papa Hogan]

I understood and until this thread I didn't know that meant a fatal shock.

Don't mind the grammar nazis.


Now lets argue more about how wrong you are about below ground utilities :awe:

They're extremely precarious and I prefer not to dig around electric and gas without knowing their precise location.

Sorry if I was abrasive the other day while I was drinking.

 

[rudeguy]

They're extremely precarious and I prefer not to dig around electric and gas without knowing their precise location.

Sorry if I was abrasive the other day while I was drinking.

Dude..its ATOT. I come here to fiercely argue over petty things.

Someone needs to find the compass thread. I've never seen people argue so hard over something like that.