What is your mains voltage? (UK only, please)

[Hazelwood Brewery]

you can see lightning...

...and you can hear me screaming!

 

[Deathstar]

So, why did the RCD not trip the power? How did you feel after the initial shock? No pun intended but I did feel energised after a 440V shock.

My moons ago when I was an apprentice, we were going to replace a 3 phase motor contactor. We isolated via the Klöckner-Moeller isolator, however it as we (my mentor) started to disconnect the contactor there was a sudden outburst of expletives! It would appear the isolator was indeed faulty too and also had to be replaced. We had to trundle all the way back to the DB age pull the fuses. Lesson learnt was always check for disconnection.

 

[kelper]

True. My brother was working on a deck crane and isolated the supply. but it had two supplies and he got a nasty shock. It's quite common for electrical machines to have two supplies, especially on ships. If both switchboard isolators are not isolated one switchboard with its own supply properly isolated, can be back-fed from the other switchboard. Modern systems normally have keyed interlocks to guard against this. Good, written switching plans are essential. I worked on 11kV so had to know the systems on board.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

True. My brother was working on a deck crane and isolated the supply. but it had two supplies and he got a nasty shock. It's quite common for electrical machines to have two supplies, especially on ships. If both supplies are not isolated one switchboard with its own supply properly isolated, can be back-fed from the other switchboard. Modern systems normally have keyed interlocks to guard against this. Good, written switching plans are essential. I worked on 11kV so had to know the systems on board.

I’ve never had an 11Kv shock but I imagine that would hurt even more than 240v (or maybe not at all!).

 

[foxbat]

I’ve never had an 11Kv shock

Yes you have :) Remember the Van der Graaff generator at school? Easily 100kV right there. Rub your jumper with a balloon- 10 or 20kV.

It's the current that kills you.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Yes you have :) Remember the Van der Graaff generator at school? Easily 100kV right there. Rub your jumper with a balloon- 10 or 20kV.

It's the current that kills you.

That’s true but it’s a bit like 0.2% beer. Not really beer is it

 

[Nicks90]

So, why did the RCD not trip the power? How did you feel after the initial shock? No pun intended but I did feel energised after a 440V shock.

The right breaker in the household box did flip, but it's quite an old unit and not one of these super flashy modern things and it let me know about my mistake before tripping out.
How did I feel?
I put a 2ftx2ft dent in the door of a Volvo xc90 with my back. I hurt. Alot.
My balls also hurt for about 3 days after, like a donkey had kicked me perfectly squarely. My right hand had a burn on the first 2 knuckles and I had bitten my tongue.


I still do leccy stuff, but I now have a hugely higher level of respect and double check everything before starting work.

 

[kelper]

I’ve never had an 11Kv shock but I imagine that would hurt even more than 240v (or maybe not at all!).

I suggest you try 440v first. Don't run before you can walk.

I don't think anyone survives contact with more than 1,000 volts.

 

[MmmBeer]

Far safer to use plug-in energy monitor, mine read 244.8V.

 

[kelper]

The right breaker in the household box did flip, but it's quite an old unit and not one of these super flashy modern things and it let me know about my mistake before tripping out.

Please get a modern unit or at least an RCD/RCCB it can save your life.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

I suggest you try 440v first. Don't run before you can walk.

I don't think anyone survives contact with more than 1,000 volts.

That’s good advice, work my way up

This discussion has reminded me of my schooldays - licking 9v batteries

 

[kelper]

My twin brother is too afraid to touch the terminals of a car battery. He was using an electric Flymo when he severed the mains cable. He picked it up and put his thumm over the end "to see if it was hot"

It was!

 

[terrym]

Some of the experiences on this thread are close to being candidates for a Darwin Award. Google 'Darwin Awards Electricity' for more

 

[Cwrw666]

Competent people? - I once changed the thermostat in our emersion heater and only when I'd finished realised I hadn't switched it off first.

 

[kelper]

But what's your voltage?! I've only had ten people vote!

 

[terrym]

But what's your voltage?! I've only had ten people vote!

Looks like we are all electrically incompetent

 

[strange-steve]

My worst electric shock was after asking someone else to isolate for me and they flipped the wrong breaker. Didn't make that mistake again.

 

[kelper]

I've added an option for all you incompetents so you don't feel you're missing out

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

But what's your voltage?! I've only had ten people vote!

We’re far more interested in tales of electrical fails! OK, I gave it a test and have good news and bad news.

First the bad news, you need to add some more options...



The good news is that I had a new meter battery...



My result has been cast on your survey.

 

[ChrisT]

I've checked a couple of times during the last 24 hours. With a big current drain, shower, voltage drops to 234, never seen it rise above 236.