Quote:
Originally Posted by decojoe67
Interesting. I didn't realize how dangerous these little sets could be! Likely these were used in kitchens very often. The novice electronics guy I am, I was poking in the chassis like a toy while it was on! eeeek!
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As long as you don't pass the current from one arm to the other (or an arm to a leg , or any other path that puts the current flow across the chest to affect the heart) most 110 volt shocks are harmless . Now if the current path IS arm to arm or any other "heart path" it can take as little as 100 milliamps to kill if someone has a weak heart or an unlucky day . That's the basis of the "one hand in your pocket" rule when working on any energized equipment , avoid the heart path and avoid the date with the grim reaper .
As to the fuses/circuit breakers mentioned by the previous poster ;
Where it takes milliamps to kill , and somewhat over 15 amps to blow a branch circuit fuse( or trip a breaker) , HELL is gonna freeze over and get warm again before any fuse ever blows if someone finds themselves across the line as part of the circuit . Fuses/circuit breakers protect buildings from fires (sometimes) and are NOT there to protect people from their own mistakes with electricity , that's more the realm of things like GFCI and AFCI devices .
PS , whenever servicing any "hot chassis" device the smart technician always employs an "Isolation transformer" to remove the ground referenced neutral line from the circuit . This eliminates any possibility of coming between the difference of potential that may otherwise exist between the hot chassis and any other nearby grounded metal that could be touched .