Hw do Chucks actually work?

[TheBigD]

I have been looking online for an explanation and can't figure it out. And it is driving me crazy!

In order to have a circuit, you have a wire going from the (-) side of the battery into a switch, then to the atty, and then to the (+) side of the battery. Close the switch and you get vapor. That is what I gather, anyway.

Just like in a mini-mag flashlight, there is a spring on the bottom cap, but I don't see any wire that goes to the switch. How does the spring complete the circuit? Does the voltage travel in the tube itself, and if so why can't you feel it when you hit the button?

 

[Wireguy]

I've never seen a Chuck but I am pretty sure the case is the negative path. You can't feel it because you aren't in the path, circuit. You don't touch the positive.

 

[Elendil]

I've never seen a Chuck but I am pretty sure the case is the negative path. You can't fell it because you aren't in the path, circuit. You don't touch the positive.

Yep, you got it............

 

[TheBigD]

Ok, so the entire tube conducts the negative, but since the positive touches the screw inside and nothing else I am safe?

 

[Elendil]

Ok, so the entire tube conducts the negative, but since the positive touches the screw inside and nothing else I am safe?

Absolutely. This is pretty much the "standard" design for tube mods (or all mods actually). No fatalities yet...

 

[Wireguy]

It's also the standard for probably every metal body flashlight you've ever used.

 

[TheBigD]

Thanks for the info! I've wondered about that spring off and on since I was a kid.

 

[highping]

Regardless of the path, you are not going to feel 6 Volts DC. Just put your thumb on the bottom of a batt and you finger on the top...feel anything?.
Your body resistance measures in the meg-ohm range you are not going to get a 'feel-able' current until you get much higher volts. Car batts are 12VDC and you can grab both posts with no shock feeling. I work with 24VAC all day and never worry about touching it.
The only exception to all of this is if you are wet. Like when you stick a 9V battery on your tongue to test it (that's how I test 'em anyway). It's not only wet, but the contacts are very close together and it's the most sensitive part of your body.

 

[Elendil]

It's not the volts that hurt/kill, it's the amps.........

 

[highping]

It's not the volts that hurt/kill, it's the amps.........

Agreed.. and I learned in my electronics schooling that it only takes about 75mA across the right spot to kill (it's a nerve in your neck that controls heartbeat, i forget the name of it). 75mA is not much at all. Your atty pulls about 1.5 to 2 amp (2000mA)

The thing is your body has fairly high resistance, and to get to shock/kill levels of current, the voltage needs to be much higher than PV voltages.

Basically, if you're not wet, you are not going to feel anything under 30V. If you're wet, resistance goes down, current goes up and you will feel lower voltages. (ie 9V batt on the tongue)

 

[Shelbeethehmmrgirl]

My husband dog Harly loves to lick 9 volt batteries so much that if we change the batteries in my husband's Tinge unit we have to leave the room or he will jump all over you to get the battery. He has gotten hurt yet.

 

[AngusATAT]

It's not the volts that hurt/kill, it's the amps.........

As an electrical substation designer, I approve of this message.

 

[Richie G]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Elendil
It's not the volts that hurt/kill, it's the amps.........

As an electrical substation designer, I approve of this message. >> Big Meanie

>

As did Gregory Hines in "Running Scared". Specifically;

"It's not the volts that get ya, it's the amps" while he and Billy Crystal were running down the 600 VDC ell tracks of Chicago.

As an electrician, I use that line all the time. =)

 

[crashtestjeep]

Hw do Chucks actually work?

....perfectly

 

[Skrymr]

....perfectly

that about sums it up.....

 

[jeffakamax]

So I used to test bell wires (phone lines) by sticking them in your mouth to find the pair you are looking for. Low voltage, not enough amperage to do anything. Quick and easy way to week out the dead pairs.... until I had a live pair in my mouth and the line rang.
90 volts at 20 cycles will get your attention. I have a fox & hound now.

The worst shock I ever got was from welding a snowmobile trailer... laying on the ground in slush & salt (saline) 220 volts and over 200 amps. I had myself braced under the trailer and was pushing a beam to be welded into place with my foot. ...... had nothing on this.... EVERYTHING was stiff, for hours. AC will knock you off, DC grags ya with a vengence.

 

[Richie G]

The worst shock I ever got was from welding a snowmobile trailer... laying on the ground in slush & salt (saline) 220 volts and over 200 amps. I had myself braced under the trailer and was pushing a beam to be welded into place with my foot. ...... had nothing on this.... EVERYTHING was stiff, for hours. AC will knock you off, DC grags ya with a vengence.

Ouch. Wet is one thing. Wet and cold and braced is, well, glad you're still here to tell the tale.

Most alarming hit I ever took was after disconnecting a 10/2 romex temp that was entering an existing panel. There were no other romex cables within the panel so I <cough> ...umed once I disconnected the hot leg and neutral, I'd be good to go. After doing so, I went to the motor that the romex was feeding and opened the splice -- only to take a belt, the load, across my chest. Ouch! As it turns out, the OTHER end of the temp line was tied into ANOTHER existing panel AND on the same phase, so no cross-phase blow-up.

Now, I carry an inductive tester, and a Fluke. =)

 

[highping]

Biggest hit I ever took was a 480VAC 3-phase feed to a boiler. I got really lucky with that one, as I was all alone in a mechanical room with nobody to knock me off if I stuck. Fortunately it threw me off pretty quick. I felt really weird for the rest of the day though.

Since we're on the subject, here's something I think everyone should know. I was told this when studying electronics. (maybe someone like Angus can verify since he is obviously trained in the field)...
Anyway... they told us that if someone is electrocuted and it stops their heart, you can keep them alive for up to four hours by continuing to perform CPR until the emergency crew arrives with a defib. I think this is important for people to know as most would probably give up after a few minutes with no response.

I guess the reason is that the heart is not really damaged it just looses it's rhythm signal and the CPR will still keep blood flow going. Just one of those useful facts tumbling around in my head with all the other useless ones.

 

[gr8dane]

One of the saddest hits I've ever seen was when Toofy (my male dane) lifted his leg on an electric fence...never knew that a dane could scream like a little girl (sad but true)

 

[Shelbeethehmmrgirl]

One of the saddest hits I've ever seen was when Toofy (my male dane) lifted his leg on an electric fence...never knew that a dane could scream like a little girl (sad but true)

I can imagine so. Worse thing I have felt was when a friend garbbed a hold of an electric fence and grabbed my hand. Wow that hurt I used to hate that fence been shocked by an electric fence more times than I can count. (Used to have horses and sheep)