Date:         Thu, 13 Nov 2003 13:00:29 -0800
Reply-To:     laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Delanty <laurasdog@WEIRDSTUFFWEMAKE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Solar charger NOT to buy
In-Reply-To:  <20031113200058.90799.qmail@web41314.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

>The charge LED flashes fine even in pretty low light,
>but it's only
>indicating that there's voltage present... however
>there's nearly no
>current, and it's current, not voltage, which will
>charge a
>battery... or an electrocution! (a 100mA current of
>1,000,000V will
>not even be felt).


FWIW, a current of 100mA is enough to be easily fatal...

The numbers vary depending on who's charts you look at,
and of course the "results" can vary a lot from one individual
to the next, but these figures are are pretty typical for the
average person. For some, the thresholds may be MUCH lower.

Approximately 1 mA is perceptible as a slight tingling sensation.

10-15 mA - Can't let go. Arm and hand muscles contract involuntarily.

20-25mA - Can't breathe. Paralysis of the chest muscles.

100mA - Heart fibrillation. Rapid, irregular contractions of the heart
muscles. Could be fatal. Some charts put this level as low as 65mA...

Here's a site with some good info on electrical shock hazard, with some
charts on typical threshold currents and resistances of human body.
(resistance determines how much voltage it will take to push dangerous
current through the body...)

<http://www.meralco.com.ph/customer/rc_main11b.html>


Steve
'86 Westy "Escape Pod"