Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Ground Cable Sparking and Shocking

[BGlidewell]

Amperage ratings don't mean anything in this discussion.



Think of amperage ratings as the amount of current that could flow with good connections and very low resistance. If a screwdriver or section of large diameter wire or metal with extremely low resistance to current flow is connected directly between battery posts extremely high current will flow.



On the other hand, the human body does not present the same low resistance and high current flow potential as a screwdriver. If the voltage is raised from 12 volts to 100 volts, the result would be different.

amen.



When I worked in DC power plants some of the guys would play mean jokes. One of their favorites was to hide behind the fuse panels while someone was working on the other side. Keep in mind that legacy telcos provide 5 9s, thats 99. 999% availability. Seconds of downtime are many thousands of dollars. You don't turn power off. Working on hot equipment is common. So the guy is so focused on his work, a circus bear could walk by him and he'd not notice. The guy behind the racks of fuses would take one of those spark cubes you used to plug into the top of a camera and set it off. I'm glad they never did that to me... .

 

[WDixon27]

one of my favorite party favors is a used up disposable camera with a flash, rewind the 35mm film and remove for processing and break the plastic case apart for the flash unit and battery, usually a bare circuit board a little bigger then your thumb and AA battery, manipulate the buttons to charge the flash and toss it to a buddy to catch, with the bare circuits you pretty much can't avoid popping them when they catch it :-laf knocked a dude out of a chair once with one Oo.

Ever have someone hand you a charged up capacitor to hold in your hand? Same result.

Bill

i've been bumped a few times over the years leaning on batteries, usually its a soft sweaty part like the bottom or back of a arm that makes for a attention getter and not rough thick skinned hands

I guess some people are just more "conductive" than others

I've never been shocked by 12v, ever and I never worry about it. But I never wallered around all lathered up on top of a battery either.