Florian met 220V.....OUCH!!!!

Florian · « **on:** 12 May 2005, 01:38 pm »

I just wanted to replace the PSU in my Tact since it cause tons of crackling in the sound. The PSU inside fluctuates in voltage and the DA and AD converters dont get enough juice.

But I the idiot forgot to unplug it first and a big shaking feel encountered the left arm....Ouch....

well i still live...

ss397 · « **Reply #1 on:** 12 May 2005, 02:41 pm »

glad your still with us. always unplug units before reaching inside. also some big capacitors can severely shock you even after the unit is unplugged if they are not discharged. please be careful.

suits_me · « **Reply #2 on:** 12 May 2005, 10:58 pm »

"It's always something."

bubba966 · « **Reply #3 on:** 12 May 2005, 11:22 pm »

Good to hear you weren't fried too bad. Getting zapped isn't any fun. I've been wiring up a projector that runs 240v 50A. And I've been veeery careful about it all. Haven't been hit by anything in the projector yet. But I did get a shot of low amperage 120v while working on one of the projector accessories.

caesar148 · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 May 2005, 01:15 am »

Being zapped by 115V is generally not fatal but 220V can kill. Glad you are safe. The most dangerous place in the word would be Australia which runs on 240V.

While it is safer running at 115V, running 220V on your audio system has its advtantage, and that is POWER. Power in the electrical world is defined as voltage x current. With lower voltge, the current has to go up in order to maintain similar power. Higher current requires heavier gauge wires. If you are running a high power system on 115V, the AC supply may be a bottle neck and sonic quality suffers. While living in Japan which runs on 100V, the lights would dim every time I turn on my power amp. So be greatful you have 220V but watch out for the life wires.

ekovalsky · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 May 2005, 01:21 am »

Usually one major shock is enough to learn a life long lesson. I got mine in college trying to put up a ceiling fan, after I realized the normal colors of the live and ground wire were reversed

As someone else mentioned, you can be at risk from both live current and also stored power in caps. One of the nastiest shocks I got was from a point and shoot camera I opened up after taking the battery out.

An old electrician's trick is to wear a glove on one hand. I do this routinely now when I know I'll be around live wires or caps. You can still get a shock, but it won't go from one arm through your chest out the other -- i.e. across your heart which can be fatal.

DSK · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 May 2005, 01:35 am »

Quote from: Florian

I just wanted to replace the PSU in my Tact since it cause tons of crackling in the sound. The PSU inside fluctuates in voltage and the DA and AD converters dont get enough juice.

But I the idiot forgot to unplug it first and a big shaking feel encountered the left arm....Ouch....

well i still live...

Florian, your adventure brings some memories flooding back of my lack of knowledge of all things electrical and apparent attraction to being shocked.

It all started when I was a baby ...my mother turned around and within the blink of an eye I had pciked up a big nappy pin and rammed it into the 240V power point beside me. There was a puff of smoke and I was thrown across the kitchen and landed in the sink.

At High School I was in charge of the stage lighting for a while. On one particular day we were having some problems so I went to the main panel. Stupidly thinking that removing a fuse removed power at the box too, I stuck my fingernail into the slot of the screw that retains the fuse receptacle terminal to see if it was tight. It was

but I'm not sure my marbles (upper or lower) were after that.

Then I bought my first car, a near new Holden LH Torana. While tuning it, again for some unknown reason (to me anyway) I grabbed hold of the front cylinder ignition lead to see if it was plugged in tightly (I had just replaced the plugs). Well, my arm was thrown violently upwards and I smacked the back of my hand hard against the bonnet latch. Luckily, it wasn't thrown forwards through the fan!

Not to mention the time I was experimenting with power cables and unplugged it from the amp ...you can see where I'm going.... but not the 240V wall socket, and went to unscrew the wires in the IEC connector at the amp end. Youch!!

A bunch of others as well, but you get the point. Strange, I'm usually a very careful person by nature

Florian · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 May 2005, 09:51 am »

Cool, i gues i am not the only one

The funny thing is that after i fixed the PSU in the tact that the PSU wasnt even the problem. Tact Audio is sending me all new controler boards this week. The whole thing has issues. Oh well, at least i know the PSU is save.

-Flo

ctviggen · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 May 2005, 12:27 pm »

Supposedly, some countries have 50Hz, which is better than 60Hz, as 60Hz is closer to an average person's resting heart rate. I always turn off electrical circuits, but my brother has rewired stuff live (120V, though). I don't like to get any shock, so I'm very careful and will even double check the voltage with a multimeter before doing anything.

jermmd · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 May 2005, 01:35 pm »

Quote from: ekovalsky

Usually one major shock is enough to learn a life long lesson. I got mine in college trying to put up a ceiling fan, after I realized the normal colors of the live and ground wire were reversed

Ceiling fans are notorious for electrocution injury. I take care of someone every year who electrocutes himself installing ceiling fans. And yes, we have had fatalities this way.

My advice to all is:
1. Hire an electrician.
2. Pay someone to get on your roof and clean your gutters.
3. Don't smoke.
4. Pay someone to shovel the snow after you reach age 40.
5. wear your seatbelt or helmit.
6. running away is better than fighting.

Of course, if people followed this advice, I wouldn't have all the nice things I have.

Redbone · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 May 2005, 01:59 pm »

In the US, 240v sockets are provided by supplying 120v to both wires, out of phase. I suspect that the same is true in Europe. It is very rare to get a 240v shock as one must touch both wires at the same time. Just touching one is the same as a 120v shock.

Very good tip about wearing a glove on one hand, I will remember that.

I have had a couple of good 120v dances in my time. The one thing that I remember about them is how great I felt afterwards. Life was wonderful, my mind was completely clear of all cares and everything was a sunny day. I understand why electro-shock therapy was used for awhile on depressed people.

It is my opinion that we all need some sort of near death experience every 2 to 3 years to keep us humble, honest and in tune with what life is really about. But as my brother said, the problem with that is the line is too narrow.

ctviggen · « **Reply #11 on:** 13 May 2005, 02:15 pm »

Hmmm...I'm not sure about this. Personally, I like doing electrical work, as I understand the system, have a copy of the NEC, and do better work (because I'm willing to take the time to do it right) than most electricians. It also depends on how handy you are. On my current house (which I've owned about a year), I've replaced two bathroom fans and added insulated ducting through the roof for the fans; installed a softwater system; installed a recessed medicine cabinet, several new lights (one of which the switch was there but the box was physically behind drywall); installed several new outlets; mapped out my entire electrical system so that I know the loads on every circuit; installed an attic fan; installed a dedicated circuit for my HT system; installed handles and knobs for cabinets; fixed leaking shower faucets and a leaking shower drain; and some more stuff. This weekend, I rebuild my racing bike prior to my ride next weekend; two weekends from now, I'm finally fixing my POS truck's rear main seal.

It all depends on how handy you are, whether you like doing this stuff, how much time you have, whether you want to do it, and whether you can afford to pay someone else to do it.

JoshK · « **Reply #12 on:** 13 May 2005, 04:10 pm »

Maybe I'm stupid, but I have worked on live circuits quite a number of times in my life and recently with remodeling my house. Most of the time I kill the circuit, but when putting in the dedicated lines, I would have had no light while working so I did it live. I was very slow and careful mind you!!

I've gotten a few zaps in my day, mostly from sticking my finger in an outlet as a kid. When working on DIY gear, I only have the power on when measuring, otherwise I turn off the power AND discharge the caps.

bubba966 · « **Reply #13 on:** 13 May 2005, 05:55 pm »

I'll shut circuits down when it's easy to do, or work on 'em live when it's easier than shutting the juice down.

That 240V 50A circuit I just installed was done with the box hot. Wasn't terribly hard, just had to be very careful.

If I'm doing outlets hot, I usually like to use very heavy rubber gloves...