Posted on 03/22/2005 7:42:49 PM PST by WKB
I thought the penalty for stealing copper wire was death by lethal injection...
It's always sad to see such a loss of a life (even a dumb one).
Since it was terminal, at least there's no chance of the guy being "charged" with anything and absolutely no chance of the case "surging" through the courts. (I know, I know, -- bowing head in shame for such comments.)
I saw some workers on one of those "extreme careers" shows. The guys who work on the high tension lines don't even need to touch the lines to be electrocuted. They said that the power would arc from 14 inches and cause immediate death.
Shortly after I took that picture, an access panel on a piece of equipment behind came crashing open. I nearly jumped outta my skin!
Wire touched by finger: 40,000 Ù to 1,000,000 Ù dry, 4,000 Ù to 15,000 Ù wet.
Wire held by hand: 15,000 Ù to 50,000 Ù dry, 3,000 Ù to 5,000 Ù wet.
Metal pliers held by hand: 5,000 Ù to 10,000 Ù dry, 1,000 Ù to 3,000 Ù wet.
Contact with palm of hand: 3,000 Ù to 8,000 Ù dry, 1,000 Ù to 2,000 Ù wet.
1.5 inch metal pipe grasped by one hand: 1,000 Ù to 3,000 Ù dry, 500 Ù to 1,500 Ù wet.
1.5 inch metal pipe grasped by two hands: 500 Ù to 1,500 kÙ dry, 250 Ù to 750 Ù wet.
I think that's right around the output of an arc welder but I'm sure there are a lot of FReepers more qualified than I am that will give you a better figure. It just emphasizes the importance of testing this sort of thing for current flow with your tongue before you actually put your hand on it...
-- bowing head in shame for such comments.)
As well you should.
I posted this as a prayer thread
and just look what happened. :>)
Natural laws don't have stays of execution. I love the way physics doesn't give a rat's @ss about legal wrangling.
There was a show on TV years ago about a guy who would cut power line up in pieces and put them in the back of his pick up. The power company could not figure out how he did this, cause the equipment necessary to cut up the wire was too expensive and bulky. And he did it before they could get to the remote sites and catch him even though it involved climbing a second tower and then cutting the wire pieces up. It turnes out he invented a small device that cut the wire and insulated him from the voltage. When they caught him, they gave him a job.
In that part of Alabama there is a lot of work available, I would bet anyone who wants a real job has one. But there are those guys who love to sell stuff at the flea markets...
I used to be a TV tech and would have fun with coronas on the picture tube anode HV. 25,000 volts (old color TV) would jump a couple inches or so. Some of those tubes would charge up again of themselves after they had seemingly been grounded, I found that out the hard way.
Darwin Strikes Again!!!
I ask that all the time when I hear of about an investigation into the obvious.
oh lol, i knew a guy who yanked the lead off the spark plug of a magneto ignition dirtbike he was working on, because it was revving up too fast and he could not find the killswitch. It had a silicone insulated boot on it, but the spark snapped around it and knocked him instantly on his can.
That's one mean-lookin' bus you've got there...
maybe he was on drugs
Happens in Iraq all the time.
Yup, that some old stuff. Looks like something I have run across while stationed in Korea!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.