I think what Michael may be referring to is that sometimes a GFCI even when tripped allows a small amount of current to pass thru to the other outlets. This happened to my friend recently. He tripped the gfci and thought he could work downstream. Much to his surprised he got a bit of a rude awakening.
Interesting, you got my attention. Even though you freind may have not followed good safe electical practices and procedures I woud have probably done the same thing as he did an assumerd that a tripped GFCI outlet meant that the circuit was disconnected which sounds reasonable.
It is a good topic to be brought up in that shoulod one assume that a tripped GFCI be considered a disconnect? This should be an eyeopenner in that we should turm off the breaker and de-energize the circuit.
But when he said he was bit it doesn't take much current to make you sit up and take notice. A common 7w night light is rated 60ma which is way moy that the 10-20ma "can't let go" level.
Thanks for the heads up and a leason learned.
Electric Current
(1 second contact) Physiological Effect
1 mA Threshold of feeling, tingling sensation.
10-20 mA "Can't let go!" current - onset of sustained muscular contraction.
100-300 mA Ventricular fibrillation, fatal if continued.
