Technical relationship advice

[drlava]

Carbon Fibre is actually conductive, that's why you need to be cautious with fishing rods around power lines.

Congratulations on the engagement

She was concerned with low voltages, where this wouldn't be an issue. Of course Your skin is conductive too but at those voltages you have much more than the ring to worry about if you are 'fishing around' in there!

[White-Light]

Close... It actually only takes about 100 ma across the heart to induce V-fib.

Adam

As I understand it its 100ma AC or 300-500ma DC. However, we split hairs. Point is low voltage + high current = potentially fatal shock in which case it doesn't really matter which ring your wearing (unless it has a portable defrib built in)!

[heroic]

As I understand it its 100ma AC or 300-500ma DC. However, we split hairs. Point is low voltage + high current = potentially fatal shock

Only if you either pierce the skin or start conduction with a higher voltage. There are billions of devices out there with higher voltages than the ones I handle that are capable of greater than an amp in short pulses- we call them nine volt batteries. I haven't seen the safety recall notice yet...

[Agent C]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

We've decided we want matching rings, which kinda compresses the choice a bit (she's not as techy as I am... but then again who is?) but we've seen jade rings which look nice and combine several nice properties. They are non-conductive, polycrystalline so they won't form sharp edges if they shatter, look great, won't wear out, and don't tarnish. Plus, everyone likes unearthly green minerals except Superman, and that guy sucks anyway.



Sadly due to the backwards nature of the US political process, we're going to have to go to Canada to get married, which rather puts a crimp on our plans for family gatherings and/or receptions; I for one don't envy repeating the process of importing the laser to the USA. (Before anyone asks why we're not doing the Californian domestic partner thing- check out the difference in rights and portability between the two.)

There will definitely be a party at some point afterwards though. 8)

Congrats again! I'm always a big fan of making things work for you and fit your requirements.

We had a great time working with the craftsman who did our rings. A genuinely nice guy and talented artist. He listened to our requirements and ideas, drew some sketches, looked at the pictures we brought of things we liked. Later he brought little wax and wire mockups for us to try on several times during the process. I'll up a pic when if I can find a good one.

[GooeyGus]

I've heard that it's only 6mA accross the heart to be potentially fatal... am I just massively misinformed?

[mixedgas]

I've heard that it's only 6mA accross the heart to be potentially fatal... am I just massively misinformed?

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS PUBLISHED < ITS HARD TO TELL>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All I can do is give you some guidance.

Depends on the combination, and it if is under the skin. If you can get it subcutinious, then it could be a real problem.

5 ma and 110V AC, maybe not for a quick exposure. 5 mA and 5 Kv, sustained, yes.

A lot depends if you get knocked off the circuit or not. What kind of health your in. If your sweating. AC or DC, Where you get shocked.

Hit the pacing node of the heart with anything, including a hearing aid cell, and it could mess you up. Your skin's natural conductivity is what saves you.

You usually have a couple of Kv static field charge from you nose to your toes. but at no current.

One case in the other extreme:
One poor guy got trapped under a flipped golf cart, against the 48V DC battery pack, ie with 12, 24, 48 across him. Didn't really feel it, until time went by and and it changed the levels of ions in his blood stream. 7 hours later, after he made a call for help, is when they figured he passed from the heart attack. I'll have to find the cite for that, but its documented.

For example, I have one book that states max letgo current at ac is 18 mA AC for males and 25 mA AC. for females, arm to arm, based on lab tests. Ie that is when your hands are wrapped around the wire and you can't let go.


Every time I measured it, I'm about 80-100Kohms palm to palm DC, 10 Mohm DVM with a 9V battery.

They taught us if your working on live circuits, to keep a baseball bat or 2x4 to knock your friends off circuit. I had a former teacher that was in the navy and lost a friend to electrocution after breaking a bunch of the friend's ribs trying to knock him off the circuit. (ships hull is grounded)

Above 48 DC volts or 25 VAc I get instinctively nervous, which is probably why I'm still here. Those are the thresholds for "Extra Safety Low Voltage" in the international code.

look at

http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/02/Spring/richards.html

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3462661



Steve

[Laser Ben]

Why don't we just put it this way.. DON'T GET SHOCKED!!!