Oral Voltage check

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ptonsparky

ptonsparky

Tom
Location
NE (9.06 miles @5.9 Degrees from Winged Horses)
Occupation
EC - retired
Customer notice cattle shying from tank and refusing to drink. He could not readily notice voltage by touching tank, so he stuck hand in water, still not much so, he removed shoes, still not much until he stuck tongue to water surface. The expression on my face, as I heard this story, must have been pretty good because it brought a lot of laughter to all who were around me, including the lucky customer.

Open neutral.
 
ptonsparky said:
Customer notice cattle shying from tank and refusing to drink. He could not readily notice voltage by touching tank, so he stuck hand in water, still not much so, he removed shoes, still not much until he stuck tongue to water surface. The expression on my face, as I heard this story, must have been pretty good because it brought a lot of laughter to all who were around me, including the lucky customer.

Open neutral.
Click to expand...

Good thing he didn't step in it!
 
I know an old electrician here in Michigan who checked 120v with his hand. He would slightly and quickly grab the wire! Crazy......He's now 83 years old and retired I hope because his luck may have run out. :rolleyes:
 
oral voltage probe

oral voltage probe

we had a case here in Lexington, KY-horse country. a thoroughbred was electrocuted drinking from a stock tank and my firm was called in for forensic engineering. turns out a tank heater was installed and the ground wire never connected. the heater leaked voltage and killed the poor beast. i suppose the contractor's insurance settled the case. i think i would go up to the attic and find an old galvanometer before i'd use my tongue as a voltage probe.
 
dreamsville said:
I know an old electrician here in Michigan who checked 120v with his hand. He would slightly and quickly grab the wire! Crazy......He's now 83 years old and retired I hope because his luck may have run out. :rolleyes:
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Who has not done that? I'm 42, hope that's not considered old...

You have to be careful, wipe your thumb and index finger to remove oils, put thumb on the neutral and brush your index finger across the hot... (don't grab the wire!) if you do not feel anything, you may have to lick your fingers first :).... don't stand in puddle, etc......

You Dunnit? Maybe someone can start a poll???
 
Deju vu:

Deju vu:

Remember the preacher who was electrocuted in the baptismal pool when he reached for a microphone? Pool was hot, mike was not! Happened in Waco, TX a couple of years ago.
 
wasasparky said:
Who has not done that? I'm 42, hope that's not considered old...

You have to be careful, wipe your thumb and index finger to remove oils, put thumb on the neutral and brush your index finger across the hot... (don't grab the wire!) if you do not feel anything, you may have to lick your fingers first :).... don't stand in puddle, etc......

You Dunnit? Maybe someone can start a poll???
Click to expand...
my boss does this. sometimes even in panels :-?
 
wasasparky said:
You have to be careful, wipe your thumb and index finger to remove oils, put thumb on the neutral and brush your index finger across the hot... (don't grab the wire!) if you do not feel anything, you may have to lick your fingers first :).... don't stand in puddle, etc......

You Dunnit? Maybe someone can start a poll???
Click to expand...

I'll be the first to admit that I am not a purist - but not sure if we should be promoting this behavior when there are so many other safer alternatives to shocking yourself.... :rolleyes:
 
e57 said:
I'll be the first to admit that I am not a purist - but not sure if we should be promoting this behavior when there are so many other safer alternatives to shocking yourself.... :rolleyes:
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i wouldnt reccomend testing voltage like this. there is no need to shock yourself when perfectly fine voltage testers are available for a cheap price
 
Kinda like saying "Is that knife sharp? Lets see by dragging it across my neck..." Or "Is that grill hot enough to cook on?" :roll:

FYI electrical shock even if not through the chest cavity can do damage to the body - Burns, muscle and nerve damage.... Even 120-240, definately at 277-and above...

I dont like getting shocked by accident, never mind on purpose.
 
When I was a young Navy officer, some of the old chief electricians would tell me they used to check fuses in a live fuse box by touching both sides of the fuse holder with their fingers. They would only get shocked if the fuse had blown. Perhaps they were pulling my leg; I couldn?t tell back then. But they said that it was safe, because they used the backs of their fingers, not the fronts. They reasoned that if the fuse was blown, and if there was voltage between their fingers when they touched the fuse holder, then the shock would tend to contract the muscles of their fingers and force the fingers away from the box.
 
e57 said:
Kinda like saying "Is that knife sharp? Lets see by dragging it across my neck..." Or "Is that grill hot enough to cook on?" :roll:
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rotflmbo :D that is hilarious

{Moderator's Note: Edited out inappropriate content.}
 
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charlie b said:
When I was a young Navy officer, some of the old chief electricians would tell me they used to check fuses in a live fuse box by touching both sides of the fuse holder with their fingers. They would only get shocked if the fuse had blown. Perhaps they were pulling my leg; I couldn?t tell back then. But they said that it was safe, because they used the backs of their fingers, not the fronts. They reasoned that if the fuse was blown, and if there was voltage between their fingers when they touched the fuse holder, then the shock would tend to contract the muscles of their fingers and force the fingers away from the box.
Click to expand...

Yep, did some electrical stuff in the Navy I am not proud of, miracle I am still alive.
 
Ever put your tongue on a 9 volt battery to test it?
We did as youngsters on a dare.
I then bought a 67+1/2 volt battery for a short wave radio kit I was building.

My poor friend put it on his tongue and spun around two times! he only did it once though...
 
brantmacga said:
rotflmbo :D that is hilarious

{Moderator's Note: Edited out inappropriate content.}
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oh come on charlie! a light-hearted comedy about how someone was once shocked can never be inappropriate. :wink:
 
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