Vanagon EuroVan
Previous (more recent) messageNext (less recent) messagePrevious (more recent) in topicNext (less recent) in topicPrevious (more recent) by same authorNext (less recent) by same authorPrevious page (January 2003, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:   Fri, 3 Jan 2003 10:02:45 -0500
Reply-To:   David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:   Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:   David Beierl <dbeierl@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:   Re: Ground Fault in Westy?
Comments:   To: THX0001@aol.com
In-Reply-To:   <4a.165e82c5.2b46fc4f@aol.com>
Content-Type:   text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 09:46 AM 1/3/2003, THX0001@aol.com wrote: >The implant might not be required for the Grim Reaper to pop in for a visit. >Many years ago I read an article in the IEEE Spectrum which explained some of >the whys and wherefores of electrocution. I am still surprised at what a >minuscule current can cause death. Depending on its path, 10 - 15 milliamps >can cause fatal fibrillation. If you watch an experienced electrician

George, with an implanted electrode, people have been killed with 50-100 *micro*amps...

Of course it doesn't help that 50-60 Hz is pretty much the optimum frequency to induce fibrillation!

For those who don't know, might be interesting to understand how a defibrillator works -- it applies a massive DC current (total energy about 400 watt-seconds, so might be well over a kilowatt pulse) which completely immobilizes the heart muscle briefly. The hope is that the normal heartbeat generator will restart in coordinated mode instead of the random quivering that is fibrillation.

david

-- David Beierl - Providence RI USA -- http://pws.prserv.net/synergy/Vanagon/ '84 Westy "Dutiful Passage" '85 GL "Poor Relation"


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.