How many of you have had 240v shocks before?

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I've had about three 240v shocks in my life, two of which came from touching live wires forgetting that I hadn't isolated mains. The other shock was when I was just a small boy and changed a plug but didn't put the cover back on the plug - touched the terminals and... well, I had a shock! They've always been shocks from standard 13amp socket wiring.

How am I still alive?
Any of you have shocks? Is it something all electricians have had?
 
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If anyone on here that is a practicing spark hasn't had a shock I will eat a small chocolate hat.
 
You can never be too careful, when dealing with electrics.
Safe isolation procedures and lock off, should eliminate this.
I remember when I was a wee boy and decided to disconnect a lamp switch the ones that are installed in the flexed cable, then I thought it would be fun to poke around the inside of it.
I was laid on the floor of my bedroom, the shock lifted me up and threw my about 6 foot across the room to an awaiting radiator.
It puzzled me at first, but I didn't enjoy the ride and never did it again.
I have had the odd shock since, usually down to neglect and trust of others.
 
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How am I still alive?
Because the current went through 1 or 2 fingers on the same hand.

Try the same trick but with 1 hand on the L and the other on the N and you might not be able to return here and ask how you're still alive.
 
I always take the necessary precautions - its just a fistful of times where my mind has been all over the place. I probably shouldnt do any work on those days.

I remember my experience as a young boy very vividly. I had changed a plug on a fluorescent dresser lamp at my grandmothers house however I did not replace the cover on the plug. I plugged it into the socket, switched on and the light worked! However, I touched the terminals in the plug not knowing the dangers of electricity - I was far too young at the time - I must have been about 7. I remember I didn't cry though. I approached my grandmother quite literally in shock as I had no idea what had happened.

My more recent experience with shocks have not been painful so to speak, but an instant reaction of quickly moving the finger off the live wire, followed by a profanic word and a strange sensation of every part of the body turning to jelly.

Good times.
 
It is completly inadvisable, and lethal. Ban all sheds doesn't suffer fools lightly, and electrocuting yourself, through your own fault, is very foolish. (yes i have electrocuted my self foolishly btw, not proud about it, infact makes you feel foolish and like a tw@) :(
 
Sort of reminds me of being a kid and someone saying they licked one of those 9v PP3 batteries - you just have to try it.

In this case, being older and wiser and knowing not to do what everyone else is doing or telling you to do is of great benefit.
 
a shock from one hand to the other is awful. :(

I've never experienced that but after the post from 'ban-all-sheds', I definitely don't want that to happen to me
No, you don't - it is awful, and very scary.

And yes - I do know. Live -> Earth from one hand to the other, fortunately for me and all my avid readers it was to a TT earth which was probably not very good (very well drained chalk soil), but even so...
 
It does sound quite terrifying.

I also recall a time I was working in a garage fitting some sockets - I had isolated the mains and put in new wiring. I had fitted one socket but the other was still unfinished with bare cables hanging out of the metalclad backbox. Little did I know live and neutral were touching as I failed to check them and terminate the wires - I temporarily turned the mains back on... bang!

Scared the shyte out of me. I learned a lot that day.
 
If anyone on here that is a practicing spark hasn't had a shock I will eat a small chocolate hat.

I expect you're pretty safe there (although I'd quite like a chocolate hat ATM). Like I expect most of you I've given myself a few shocks through laziness or carelessness. But I recall many years ago as a youngster it wasn't unusual for an older hand to deliberately 'zap' you. Noone died that I can recall.
 

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