🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <7480045@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM>, maj@hpfcso.FC.HP.COM (Mike Jassowski) writes:
> In sci.electronics, pollock@milton.u.washington.edu (Joe Pollock) writes:
>> Keep in mind that these transformers are
>> center-tapped, meaning the mid-point of the secondary is connected to
>> the case (and to ground, if you've wired it correctly).  This means
>> that THE ONE-HAND IN THE POCKET RULE WILL NOT PROTECT YOU.  [...]
> 
> The one hand in the pocket rule is not meant to keep you from getting
> zapped.  No matter how the secondary of a neon sign transformer is
> wired, and how many hands you keep in your pocket, it is always
> possible to get a very serious shock.  [...]
> 
> --Mike Jassowski (maj@hpesmaj.fc.hp.com)

I agree with Mike.  In fact I think you can get a deadly shock from such a
transformer even if you are standing on the semi-mythical dry wood on glass
insulators (do you know anyone who actually works that way?), and even if you
touch the "hot" terminal with only one hand.  It's true that under these
conditions the current has "no place to go", ie no ground path, but there will
still be a very brief current flow as your body "charges up" to the potential
of the hot terminal. 

I have no idea if this amount of current, for this brief time, would be lethal
or not, but I'm not gonna test it!  This isn't a test you get to go back and do
over again! 

Bear in mind that the shock itself doesn't have to kill you to be dangerous. 
The shock may kill or maim by doing nothing more exotic than causing your 
muscles to convulse, throwing you against the wall or onto the floor with 
extreme violence.  (This is a particular hazard when working around TV sets
without discharging the CRT 2nd anode.  The shock itself might not be lethal
but it might cause you to swing your hand into the neck of the CRT, and if your 
hand is holding a tool, there's a good chance of breaking it... and the 
resulting implosion won't be pretty.)

	--- Jamie Hanrahan, Kernel Mode Consulting, San Diego CA
Internet:  jeh@cmkrnl.com, hanrahan@eisner.decus.org, or jeh@crash.cts.com
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