Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!ll-xn!ames!eos!jbm
From: jbm@eos.UUCP (Jeffrey Mulligan)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Automobile shock hazard (was: shock box)
Message-ID: <334@eos.UUCP>
Date: 15 Mar 88 02:49:42 GMT
References: <560001@hpcljws.HP.COM>
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, California
Lines: 21

From article <560001@hpcljws.HP.COM>, by jws@hpcljws.HP.COM (John Stafford):
> I wouldn't quite claim it is safe to work at automobile voltage (12V)
> levels.  The second factor, current, comes into play here; cars may only
> be 12 volts, but there are (especially when starting) quite a few amps
> around.
> 

Kids:  don't try this at home!

Someone posted something on rec.autos about the following stunt:
they rigged up an "alarm" which consisted of a wire from the
ignition coil to an electrode in the seat cushion.  This was
a practical joke, and the funny part was that, after starting
the car and getting an initial kick in the pants, every time the
victim touched the key to turn the motor off or the door handle to try
and escape, he got a shock.

My question is:  are there any hazards from the type of shocks
encountered in auto ignition systems.  I have gotten painful
little zings just from having my arm touch a spark plug wire
while reaching over for something else.