Hee, hee, my ring only cost a hundred bucks, but then that was a lot of money in 1989.
Do you remove your wedding ring when working on your engine?
- Thread starter wavinwayne
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When I went to tech to learn how to service cars, the old guy running the course showed a pretty neat scar on his wrist from a metal watch band and starter motor connection.
I don't wear rings or watches when I'm working on stuff.
And I hate having sleeves rolled down when working near machinery. Work has recently started sewing in the cuffs of our protective clothing to stop us rolling our sleeves up...as boilermakers were reporting splatter burns. It will be a different matter when a fitter gets wrapped around a lathe.
I don't wear rings or watches when I'm working on stuff.
And I hate having sleeves rolled down when working near machinery. Work has recently started sewing in the cuffs of our protective clothing to stop us rolling our sleeves up...as boilermakers were reporting splatter burns. It will be a different matter when a fitter gets wrapped around a lathe.
I take my ring off anytime I do any kind of work on my cars. To cut grass or something like that than I leave it on.
"If I have no metal in or on my body and I touch both terminals, will I get a shock? if so how bad would it be?"
Now don't try this at home kiddies.
Have to qualify somewhat. No, if you use two hands, unless you are very wet -- rain, perspiration or swimming pool -- assuming a 12-14 volt battery. If you use one hand – finger to finger – you stand a chance of feeling a mild shock, depending on your body chemistry, and how clean your hands are.
Direct Current is very nasty stuff. Alternating Current will allow you to pull away from the contact as it passes through zero volts. Normally the natural contraction of the muscles from the electrical pulse will pull you away from AC. Direct current never passes through zero volts, and you are hung up on it for keeps. Depending on how one contacts DC, muscle contractions can pull one into the electricity. The other problem is that an electrical current (even with a voltage as small as 0.5 volt) passing from hand to hand – across the chest – can interfere with the heart’s rhythm. Google heart arrhythmia. This can be a fatal situation – and I am not exaggerating.
For years I worked with a “miracle man.” He blew a 1 amp fuse at 12 kV AC. The current went in his shoulder blade and out the keys in his trousers pocket – both on his right side. The fact that he was wearing a leather jacket probably saved his life. The keys in his pocket probably helped also. Today, some thirty years after the event, he suffers from severe osteoarthritis. Coincidence – maybe, but then again maybe not.
After more than thirty years in the electric utility business I have learned: It is not wise to play games with electricity. Ben Franklin, if he actually did what is so widely reported, was very lucky.
Terry
Now don't try this at home kiddies.
Have to qualify somewhat. No, if you use two hands, unless you are very wet -- rain, perspiration or swimming pool -- assuming a 12-14 volt battery. If you use one hand – finger to finger – you stand a chance of feeling a mild shock, depending on your body chemistry, and how clean your hands are.
Direct Current is very nasty stuff. Alternating Current will allow you to pull away from the contact as it passes through zero volts. Normally the natural contraction of the muscles from the electrical pulse will pull you away from AC. Direct current never passes through zero volts, and you are hung up on it for keeps. Depending on how one contacts DC, muscle contractions can pull one into the electricity. The other problem is that an electrical current (even with a voltage as small as 0.5 volt) passing from hand to hand – across the chest – can interfere with the heart’s rhythm. Google heart arrhythmia. This can be a fatal situation – and I am not exaggerating.
For years I worked with a “miracle man.” He blew a 1 amp fuse at 12 kV AC. The current went in his shoulder blade and out the keys in his trousers pocket – both on his right side. The fact that he was wearing a leather jacket probably saved his life. The keys in his pocket probably helped also. Today, some thirty years after the event, he suffers from severe osteoarthritis. Coincidence – maybe, but then again maybe not.
After more than thirty years in the electric utility business I have learned: It is not wise to play games with electricity. Ben Franklin, if he actually did what is so widely reported, was very lucky.
Terry
Good advice. I was a Telephone company lineman for while in between the AF and school. One of the things we learned in linemans school was that more phone company linemen got electricuted than power company linemen. The reason was pretty simple, the power company linemen knew they were dealing with something dangerous every time they went to work, phone lines were only rarely leathal, usually because a power line had touched one.
I've done this, although I can't recommend anyone else trying it. 12 volts is not enough to give you a shock. If your skin is dry, you wouldn't feel a thing. I can't speak for wet skin.
My fellow BITOGS, Good topic. I was taught to never wear anything on my hands when doing anything remotely dangerous. I would also like to say that eye protection is even more important, if that can be. Ear protection, masks, head protection, etc.
Let's play and work safe and enjoy our machines.
Let's play and work safe and enjoy our machines.
no
current will travel from + of battery through conductive ratchet directly to - side of battery. If your ring, or any other part of you, is touching the ratchet, it won't matter it's just an open circuit. Now if someone is dumb enough to use to ratchets, one on + and the other on -, and the ring makes the connection between the 2, then the few hundred amps of current is going to melt the ring if you keep it together past the initial arc.
actually you can get a pretty good shock if you are touch the lines when a ring comes in. its something like 90V. ask me how i know
I haven't taken my ring off since the day I was married (17 years ago on July 30). My ring fits tight, and is smaller than the diameter of my finger. If I'm doing something like working on engines I'm wearing mechanics gloves (for better grip).
Around the yard I always wear heavy leather gloves so my hands are protected. I also wear safety glasses, ear plugs when working near anything loud or mowing, and leathers when cutting wood.
Around the yard I always wear heavy leather gloves so my hands are protected. I also wear safety glasses, ear plugs when working near anything loud or mowing, and leathers when cutting wood.
More often than not the reaction to the spark causes more injuries than the actual contact. I've seen people stab themselves with tools after instinctively jerking away from a simple low voltage arc.
12 volts won't hurt you, electrocution-wise. I test 9v batteries all the time with the simple tongue-touch.
12 volts won't hurt you, electrocution-wise. I test 9v batteries all the time with the simple tongue-touch.
having a reason to wear the ring usually leaves a far deeper scar than anything else. I do however know that losing a ring finger at work is the most lucrative one to lose as far as workmans comp is concerned. like 35,000 if I remember right. regardless even when I was married I never wore the ring , I had it caught more than once and that did it for me. I also weld and was shown in high school what it can do. My weld. teach was an ex underwater welder for the navy. he did have some bitchin stories though.. mr flowers was his name... those were the days eh...
44H
44H
12 Volts hasn't ever given me a tingle but 24 Volts will. I was working on a Cat D8 one day and was sweaty as can be while hooking up the batteries and I could feel a touch of electricity going across my skin. Being hooked up to the phone lines while standing barefoot on concrete hurts more. I think people will find that the new 48 Volt car batteries can be quite painful...never come across one but I'm sure there's enough Voltage to get ya going.
Steve
Steve
When I got married I told my wife I didn't want a ring cause I don't like wearing Jewelery. Wearing a ring around machinery is a no no. around a 12 volts very very bad.The ring will get hot enough to melt if shorted out. lots of amps. No you won't get a shock. Let all the smart people tell you that. There is enough amps to melt the ring very very quick.
Always take rings off when doing work with your hands. I have two co workers who lost a finger each because of wedding rings. One lost his when the ring finger got caught on the back of a pick up truck while jumping out of the truck. The other guy lost his when he snagged his ring finger on a backhoe attachment. These were freak accidents but, they do happen.
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