lick finger on each hand
NO< NO< NO - just in case anyone wants to reproduce the Alexander Volta method, you DO need to define the 'range settings' , and
NEVER use both hands.
for some actual history, see:
Volta as voltmeter;
Moore, C.E., Spectrum, IEEE , Volume: 33 , Issue: 3
DOI: 10.1109/6.485771
Publication Year: 1996 , Page(s): 38 - 41, 44
Personal experience:
DC or AC peak ranges
1.5 V setting -- directly on tongue if the girls like your tongue, or salt water on thumb and forefinger, finger on one terminal, thumb on tongue, tongue on other terminal
2V to 15V -- skip the salt -- calibration: 9V battery directly on tongue - fully charged, painful; useable, noticeable tingle, throw away, only slight sour taste
15 V to 40V - thumb to little finger, wet. For 15 to about 30 V it helps to have a metal splinter in the thumb or a cut
40 V-100 V (70 Vrms max) - wet fingers
120 Vac (160 peak) - dry finger to thumb, often best to wipe your fingers on pant leg first to be sure they are dry
120 Vac to 300 Vac - very dry fingers: calibration: good tingle, 120 Vac; jerk reaction, 240 Vac; pain, 300 Vac
above 300 Vac - many folks need to contact mortuary prior to experiment.
3000Vac - survivable, but must be short contact duration and timed to NOT occur during your heartbeak T-wave.