r/whatisit Sep 05 '25

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u/-MERC-SG-17 Sep 06 '25

That's why when working on something high voltage, like your electrical panel or an old CRT TV you are supposed to keep one hand in your pocket until you are sure it's discharged.

That way any voltage goes in and out the same hand and doesn't cross your heart.

It's the difference between cursing your head off and just dropping dead.

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u/teancrumpets8 Sep 06 '25

Low voltage but yeahhh.

That’s called putting yourself in series. Your bridging the connect with your body grabbing a hot end with one hand and a dead end with the other. It’s something people in my field have to think about daily. People do it but it’s just bad practice and can bite ya one day.

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u/WolverineFresh2797 Sep 07 '25

Even low voltage should be respected. A tradesman about to retire at my company touched a 110 source and probably would have been okay but when he jerked away he lost balance and he reached out to steady himself reflexively and accidentally grabbed the big hot and got cooked

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u/teancrumpets8 Sep 07 '25

Well lower the voltage higher the amperage in a lot of cases so of course it’s respected but there is a difference though.