5 Feb
2011
5 Feb
'11
9:45 a.m.
On 05/02/2011 15:16, William Donzelli wrote:
I think there's something in it, but I agree that just about any shock
will make muscles do uncontrolled things. I certainly wouldn't take
less care on a 230V circuit than a 120V one, OR vice versa. OTOH I've
had a shock from a slightly lower voltage that was painful (and
potentially dangerous) but not sharp enough to jerk my fingers off the wire.
--
Pete Peter Turnbull
Network Manager
University of York
Nevertheless,
I've often heard it argued that voltages around 230V RMS are
safer than, say, 110V RMS, on the grounds that a casual brush with a 230V
live conductor will cause a very rapid reaction in humans, often jerking the
contact free, whereas voltages around the 100-150V range don't. I can't
remember where I read supporting evidence, but it's certainly something I've
often heard mentioned, and is one reason we think American voltages are
actually more dangerous than ours.
This reasoning sounds really flawed. A jolt of unexpected 120 V AC
will certainly make the muscles do uncontrolled things.