About Electricity and Humans

This is the kind of information that is best deteremined through experiments. On others. Have fun.

Can't you save the web pages (or at the very least their links) to a 3.5" floppy disk or usb memory stick. Does a friend have a computer you could use?

I work at the far end of the spectrum in the power transmission and distruibution industry (33kV, etc), and also do side R&D projects on using electricity to humanely (yes they are certified humane by international labs) kill animals (possums, etc - not anything cute thou), but here are a few points that may help:

1) Killing people using electricity is easy, so ludicrously easy as to boggle the imagination. Killing rodents with electricty is supprisingly very difficult (dont try this at home).

2) I am not aware of any toy such as the one you mentioned that is actually dangerous to the average person (or they would not be able to sell it).

3) Police tasers and the like are non-lethal weapons (to most people, and I still am not aware of ANY deaths relating directly to these that were not a result of some bizzare accident). Based on the level of information you require, I suggest researching into these weapons (there is a lot of good info on the web) and assume (for your research level) that this is the highest safe level of electricity that the human body can endure.

4) Touching 33kV powerlines is a bad idea.

I was knocked-out once by 240vac to the forehead. I don't have many details about the incident itself because I woke up on the floor with my jaw aching and all my lower teeth loose. I had to deduce the events because I have no actual memory of them. One moment I was changing the purge valve on an ice machine, the next I was lying on the floor hurting. I don't even know how long I was out since I was working in a commercial kitchen on a Sunday afternoon and everyone else in the place was out in the main dining room watching the band tune up. They had no idea anything even happened to me. After thinking about it some I realized that the position I was in had my forehead very close to the terminal strip to which the incoming power was connected. Stupidly, I had failed to switch off the breaker supplying power to the unit. To this day I am amazed that I was not killed. Somehow the current did not cross my heart or, if it did, it had no effect. I guess my teeth were loose due to the convulsion of my jaw muscles. This is anecdotal evidence only and I will NOT repeat the experiment. That's all the info I have on the capacity of humans to tolerate electrical exposure. Hope it helps.

Ah yes, good old experience. A similar experience happened to me. If it wasn't so dangerous I would recommend that electricians and similar had to endure an electric shock as part of their training (under controlled and safe conditions of course), I think it would work wonders in helping to improve safety and vigilance. I have also tried this with hypothermia (accidentally of course). A VERY interesting feeling, your brain starts to shut down and you loose your rational thought. If it wasn't for the fact that I was tramping thru a snowy mountain range (in a pair of shorts and tee shirt) with a group, I might never have stopped to put on warm clothing! Certainly an experience I will never forget.