Originally Posted by
Bill Dufour
A gfci will trip with 5 miliamps, lungs function fails around 75 milliamp, 100 milliamps and the heart stops. So a 6 amp drill is plenty. You are very lucky and good thing you did not tough it out and keep working.
Bil lD
It's actually more complicated than that. Sometimes more is safer than less current. And there are issues of microshock vs macroshock (delivering very small amounts of current, for example, directly to the heart via a pulmonary artery catheter or a direct stimulus can easily cause an arrhythmia or stop it. 100mA is typically quoted for the potentially fatal level of macroshock, but 20mA of microshock can easily cause ventricular fibrilation). And if a current is of the proper amplitude to prevent your muscles releasing the object by causing a tetanic stimulation, really bad things happen. We routinely deliver tetanic stimuli in the operating room to detect the level of neuromuscular blockade (paralysis) caused by neuromuscular blockers. The frequency of the stimulus is important as well. It's impressive watching the wrist clench and not release. "Let-go" current is typically quoted as 10-20 mA.
And, of course, tissue injury with large amounts of current can be devastating. They are truly horrible injuries, that are usually hidden on initial examination. Current will flow through the body via the path of least resistance until it finds ground outside the body. Typically highly vascular tissues, muscle, organs, etc... Lung injury from electrocution has been reported, but it's very rare. I've never seen it.
Of course, avoiding all shocks is really the goal. Be safe out there. Don't forget that Edison electrocuted Topsy the elephant with AC (he really was a jerk, but I do like having lights).
- After I ask a stranger if I can pet their dog and they say yes, I like to respond, "I'll keep that in mind" and walk off
- It's above my pay grade. Mongo only pawn in game of life.