I've noticed that when working with 120 wires not higher because I'm not crazy. Caliced fingers, which real hard working electricians develope keep you from getting shocked when grabbing live wire. Can some explain the reasoing in more technical terms. Does it have to with the lack of moisture in fingers?
Can't get shocked?
- Thread starter Aledrell
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Think potential , potential.....Just dont touch anything else at the same time:smile:
Just dont let your attitude get caliced to think it wont kill you !!!
jwelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- North Carolina
in order for current to flow there must be a complete path. You just haven't completed the path yet.
nolabama
Senior Member
- Location
- new orleans la
use both hands or be holding something like a gutter or metal stud j/k
Ya like it can potentially kill you.
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Kilmarnock, Va
- Occupation
- Retired after 52 years in the trade.
UM let me see, you intentionally touch conductors at 120 VAC NOT
Well you are totally CRAZY. UNless you are taking special precautions to verify you are not touching a surface of a different potential and even if you are you are taking needless chances.
Well you are totally CRAZY. UNless you are taking special precautions to verify you are not touching a surface of a different potential and even if you are you are taking needless chances.
TOOL_5150
Senior Member
- Location
- bay area, ca
All right
All right
Well my typing skills may be fast but I sometime forget to fully proof read things just want to post a thought proving question as I never attended legitamate electrical school I learned old fashion way old journeyman yelling at me what tool to bring back off the truck. And an old Ohio electrician used to "There are old electricians and bold electricians, but no old bold electricians" I guess I am still a bold electrician if grabbing 120 volt makes me crazy.
All right
Well my typing skills may be fast but I sometime forget to fully proof read things just want to post a thought proving question as I never attended legitamate electrical school I learned old fashion way old journeyman yelling at me what tool to bring back off the truck. And an old Ohio electrician used to "There are old electricians and bold electricians, but no old bold electricians" I guess I am still a bold electrician if grabbing 120 volt makes me crazy.
That's how accidents happen
That's how accidents happen
When I was young and green, I was roughing in a department store remodel getting it lit up.......277V lighting....Tapping into home run, I stripped the stranded #12, twisted the strands together with my thumb and forefinger.....Imagine my suprise when I let go of the wire to grab my nines and the wire hit the box and I was blinded by the flash .....I still thank my lucky stars that I hadn't touched the celing grid or anything else.
Seems the store manager was trying to get light on else where and a taped breaker didn't mean anything to him.....I got down, and drove straight to the supply house and bought my first set of lockouts...
That's how accidents happen
When I was young and green, I was roughing in a department store remodel getting it lit up.......277V lighting....Tapping into home run, I stripped the stranded #12, twisted the strands together with my thumb and forefinger.....Imagine my suprise when I let go of the wire to grab my nines and the wire hit the box and I was blinded by the flash .....I still thank my lucky stars that I hadn't touched the celing grid or anything else.
Seems the store manager was trying to get light on else where and a taped breaker didn't mean anything to him.....I got down, and drove straight to the supply house and bought my first set of lockouts...
277v
277v
I am a totally different electrician around 277 or higher. I only been bit by once and that was enough. My wrist hit the 4 sq box I am lucky. I was working ironically at the AZ Supreme court, lots of panels everywhere and noone knows where they are type deal. But, I worked with a guy who working on 277 while he was leaning back against an ac unit. He got hit with 277 volt, lucky to be alive has large scar on his back from where current exited. But I have not been at this as long some guys who have horrifing stories they could tell.
277v
I am a totally different electrician around 277 or higher. I only been bit by once and that was enough. My wrist hit the 4 sq box I am lucky. I was working ironically at the AZ Supreme court, lots of panels everywhere and noone knows where they are type deal.
But, I worked with a guy who working on 277 while he was leaning back against an ac unit. He got hit with 277 volt, lucky to be alive has large scar on his back from where current exited. But I have not been at this as long some guys who have horrifing stories they could tell.I am a totally different electrician around 277 or higher. I only been bit by once and that was enough. My wrist hit the 4 sq box I am lucky. I was working ironically at the AZ Supreme court, lots of panels everywhere and noone knows where they are type deal.
According to OSHA, most electrical related fatalities occure at 120 volts.
Its just good practice to use the same amount of awareness around all live conductors regardless of voltage. To make the statement that you are a "totally different electrician around 277 or higher" is utter nonsense and shows a complete lack of an understanding of the fundamentals of electrical current and potential on your part.
I've got the sad feeling you're going to end up just another statistic.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
A callus is like an insulator which has a higher resistance than regular skin. That's why you don't receive the same shock (or any) as you would if you touched something energized with some good soft skin.
When I first started in this business I worked with an old timer that tested fuse panels with his fingers. He would lick them first so that he actually feel something. A real dangerous practice from an old dinosaur.
When I first started in this business I worked with an old timer that tested fuse panels with his fingers. He would lick them first so that he actually feel something. A real dangerous practice from an old dinosaur.
that doesnt mean 120 is more dangerous, it just means more idiots work on 120 and get themselves killed
- Location
- Massachusetts
No kidding.
:grin:But the fact remains 120 VAC kills a lot of people each year and should be treated that way.
quogueelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- new york
It has a lot to do with lack of IQ for using your fingers as a voltage tester because you know better.
aftershock
Senior Member
- Location
- Memphis, TN
No kidding.
But the fact remains 120 VAC kills a lot of people each year and should be treated that way.
I have been told the neutral is what kills. Or completing the circuit. That holds onto you. Grounding out knocks you back.
I remember one time a few years back, I was in an attic looking for a 120/v JB to wire a ceiling fan to. I opened this one JB, took the wire nuts off and accidently touched both wires. I seemed to have found a 220/v JB and took 15 minutes to find where my side cutters landed after I got the crap knocked out of me.
that brought back some memories, I used to work a guy who worked the same way, never turned anything off, his finger & thumb was his volt meter,
- Location
- Windsor, CO NEC: 2017
- Occupation
- Hospital Master Electrician
Don't kid yourself - more electricians die from 120V shocks every year than any other voltage. If you don't believe us, we can dig the statistics back up for you - or do a search for a banned member called "Gmack".
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