How much amps does it take to kill a human

Voltage is a measure of the pressure or force of the electrical power passing through a conductor, while current is more an indicator of rate of the electrical flow. So the question really should be: How much current does it take to kill someone? The answer is very little. A current of as little as 0. However, the current involved in an electric shock is determined by the voltage and the resistance of the circuit.

The low resistance of wet skin allows current to pass into the body more easily and give a greater shock. When more force is applied to the contact point or when the contact area is larger, the resistance is lower, causing stronger shocks. Power drills use 30 times as much current as what will kill. The path of the electrical current through the body affects the severity of the shock.

Currents through the heart or nervous system are most dangerous. If you contact a live wire with your head, your nervous system will be damaged.

Contacting a live electrical part with one hand—while you are grounded at the other side of your body—will cause electrical current to pass across your chest, possibly injuring your heart and lungs. The greater the current, the greater the shock! Severity of shock depends on voltage, amperage, and resistance. Currents across the chest are very dangerous. The customer then left the house and returned 90 minutes later.

She noticed the service truck was still in the driveway. After 2 more hours, the customer entered the crawl space with a flashlight to look for the technician but could not see him. She then called the owner of the company, who came to the house. He searched the crawl space and found the technician on his stomach, leaning on his elbows in front of the furnace. The assistant county coroner was called and pronounced the technician dead at the scene.

The victim had electrical burns on his scalp and right elbow. After the incident, an electrician inspected the site. The owner of the company stated that the victim was a very thorough worker. Perhaps the victim performed more maintenance on the furnace than previous technicians, exposing himself to the electrical hazard. This death could have been prevented!

The victim should have tested the circuit to make sure it was de-energized. Employers should provide workers with appropriate equipment and training. Using safety equipment should be a requirement of the job.

Although the NEC is not retroactive, all homeowners should make sure their systems are safe. NEC — N ational E lectrical C ode— a comprehensive listing of practices to protect workers and equipment from electrical hazards such as fire and electrocution Electrical burn on hand and arm.

There have been cases where an arm or leg is severely burned by high-voltage electrical current to the point of coming off, and the victim is not electrocuted. In these cases, the current passes through only a part of the limb before it goes out of the body and into another conductor. Article PDF first page preview. Issue Section:. You do not currently have access to this article. Download all slides. Comments 0.

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