I had an ELECTRIFYING weekend!

[Drew99GT]

I got electricuted on a 220 volt outlet Saturday afternoon by simply plugging a stovetop range in. I found out the hard way there was a short in the oulet and the face plate was hot. It was so bad it instantly made my left shoulder seperate. I didn't even realize what happened; all I knew was my shoulder hurt like....I was lying on the ground and all of a sudden, my left shoulder moved about an inch back into place with a loud/distinct poping sound and I was like "ahhhhhhhhhh that feels better!" All is well now; shoulder feels like someone wound it up like a prop.

 

[brianl703]

Unless you somehow you got your fingers between the two hot wires, it was only 120V that you felt.
(the 220V is derived from two hot wires each of which are only 120V to ground).

 

[Drew99GT]

Yea, that's what my brother told me. ONLY 120 volts.

 

[drm7]

I've been hit by 120 a couple times. It's never really hurt but it's pretty scary. One time my hand and wrist were pulsing with the current and I couldn't let go. It seemed to take a couple seconds for me to get away from the wire. Messes up the nerve ends and makes it hard to control your fingers.

 

[Matt_S]

I've been shocked by 120V, too. It is certainly something I don't care to repeat, but it wasn't that bad. Really, it's all about how well grounded you are. If you're wearing rubber shoes and not touching anything else, you probably won't feel a thing. If you're touching a grounded object with another part of your body, you'll get a helluva jolt. That's probably what happened to Drew.

That really stinks, though. I'm glad you weren't hurt more seriously, Drew.

 

[Pablo]

How are your shorts?

 

[Slick17601]

My guess would brown!

 

[1sttruck]

Don't some old timey electricians test for hot 120V by licking their fingers and then quickly touching the suspect wire ?

 

[Master ACiD]

hahahaa i dont know but i would like to see someone try that.

 

[Gary Allan]

Yes, the "Mr. Make Your Own Fusible Link Nubby Finger Guy" (cue Real Men of Genius Bud-Lite music).

 

[ekpolk]

I would offer a toast to your fortunate survival, but it sounds like you're already nice and toasty. . .

 

[Schmoe]

Yeah.....watch this and hold my beer!!!!!

 

[kloppilt]

quote:

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Don't some old timey electricians test for hot 120V by licking their fingers and then quickly touching the suspect wire ?

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That's how I make sure the wire is not hot after I have switched it off.

 

[Drew99GT]

quote:

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How are your shorts?

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They're clean now!

 

[TallPaul]

You did get shocked from a 220 outlet, fortunately it only had 110 live on the box. Obviously the box was not grounded.

I saw an electrician do the finger lick and lightly touch the wire test for hot. I prefer a test light. Those pocket clip little red lites work nicely if you hold one lead between your fingers and probe the wires with the other it will glow slightly on the hot (in case you have no ground handy).

A farmer taught me to test anything you suspect of being live with the back of your hand as the electricity will contract your muscles and make you grab and hold onto anything on the palm side of your hand.

I once (stupidly

--what was I thinking) held two different hot wires from a 220 and stuck the bare ends together. KaPOW

, a big flash of extremely bright light, and two fried 60 amp fuzes! Then I told my 9-year-old son who was watching me not to try what I just did.

 

[Larry the Cable Guy]

Dad,

You're grounded!

 

[Pete C.]

It ain't the volts that getcha, it's the amps.

 

[Bob Woods]

It ain't the volts that getcha, it's the amps.

True, but the more voltage the more current flow. Ohms law 101

 

[ekpolk]

quote:

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It ain't the volts that getcha, it's the amps.

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Just ask Ted Bundy, he'll verify this. . .

===================================

quote:

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How are your shorts?

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Mine? I prefer to avoid shorts, it’s more comfortable that way. . . (do I get the double entendre award for the week for this one???)

 

[dkcase]

Sigh.

In this long thread, no one else jumped in as the word police, so I will do it.

Electrocuted = killed by electric shock.

Ouch! Glad you are still with us.