Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!apple!usc!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!tinman.cis.ohio-state.edu!hauser From: hauser@tinman.cis.ohio-state.edu (michael robert hauser) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: HELP! Message-ID: <87498@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> Date: 22 Jan 91 02:52:27 GMT References: <1991Jan19.052458.7449@wam.umd.edu> <1991Jan19.075940.26652@zoo.toronto.edu> <55124@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> Sender: news@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu Reply-To: michael robert hauser Organization: Ohio State University Computer and Information Science Lines: 47 In article <55124@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> visjames@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu writes: >In article <1991Jan19.075940.26652@zoo.toronto.edu>, henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes... >>In article <1991Jan19.052458.7449@wam.umd.edu> bander@wam.umd.edu (Nicholas Andrew Vargish) writes: >>>My Project is: wire my bedroom window^s screen for 110 volts. I could >>>rig a detector and flash camera for less, but at this point, money is >>>no object, and time is critical... >> > > Wrong-o. If it's wired properly it should severly shock the person and >throw them back from the window. These are AC systems. The onces that kill >are DC systems. > I would thik that a 60 volt, 4 amp system (AC) with a warning sign woould >be ok. > On a side note today I was useing a metal saw (electric,recripicating(sp)) >and cut through an electrical feed. The power company said it was off, but >I hit a like 220 volt power feed (where it enters the house, before the breaker) >it melted the blade, it melted about 1"x2"x1/16" of high tempered steel. >Powerful, lots of sparks, and a shock, but I was copletely unharmed (one hand >was on an insulated portion of the saw, the other wasn't). Anyway., I think >you can see it's possable to shock the s*it out of someone and not hurt them. > I also blew an hand held light 10 minutes later. Not my dad. > You were lucky. If you would have completed the circuit across your heart, you might be dead right now. It takes less than 1 amp through the body to kill someone. The frequency of the electricity coming out of the houshold outlet is 60hz. This low frequency travels easily through the body. As a testament to this, think about how many times people are electrocuted in electrical accidents each year. Low frequency AC is just as dangerous as DC. I worked for a power company and have seen pictures of electrical accidents. NOT PRETTY! It would be very difficult to design this so called deterent. There are too many variables. Skin resistance varies from person to person, the resistance of urine is going to be much less than that for skin do to the electrolytic content of it, etc. Unless you're ready to go to prison, don't wire your screen! Mike -- "Just when I thought I knew all the answers in life, I found out that I was taking the wrong test." mrh 1990 email: hauser@cis.ohio-st.edu -----------------------------------------------------------------------