1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines

   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #1  

lennyzx11

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Things have progressed a bit since 1942. Happy reading.


The following is from The American Electricians Handbook (1942) A Reference Book for Practical Electrical Workers. Terrell Croft, consulting engineer. McGraw Hill Book Company, Inc, New York and London 1942
Electricians often test circuits for the presence of voltage touching the conductors with the fingers. This method is safe where the voltage does not exceed 250 and is often very convenient for locating a blown-out fuse or for ascertaining whether or not a circuit is alive. Some men can endure the electric shock that results without discomfort whereas others cannot. Therefore, the method is not feasible in some cases. Which are the outside wires and which is the neutral wire of a 115/230 volt three wire system can be determined in this way by noting the intensity of the shock that results by touching different pairs of wires with the fingers. Use the method with caution and be certain that the voltage of the circuit does not exceed 250 before touching the conductors. (This and the several paragraphs that follow are taken from Electrical Engineering:)
159. The presence of low voltages can be determined by testing. The method is feasible only where the pressure is but a few volts and hence is used only in bell and signal work. Where the voltage is very low, the bared ends of the conductors constituting the 2 sides of the circuit are held a short distance apart on the tongue. If voltage is present a peculiar mildly burning sensation result, which will never be forgotten after one has experienced it. The taste is due to the electrolytic decomposition of the liquids on the tongue which produces a salt having a taste. With voltages of 4 or 5 volts, due to as many cells of a battery, it is best to test for the presence of voltage by holding one of the bared conductors in the hand an touching the other to the tongue. Where a terminal of the battery is grounded, often a taste can be detected by standing on moist ground and touching a conductor from the other battery terminal to the tongue. Care should be exercised to prevent the 2 conductor ends from touching each other at the tongue, for it they do a spark can result that may burn.

RESUSCITATION FROM ELECTRIC SHOCK By Frederick Koliz, MD
1st. Lay the patient on his back, 2 Move the tongue back and forth in the mouth by seizing it with a handkerchief or the fingers, while working the arms to induce respiration. 3. Don稚 pour anything down the patient痴 throat. 4. Try to cause the patient to gasp by inserting the first and second fingers in the rectum, and pressing them suddenly and forcibly toward the back. 5. If possible, procure oxygen gas, and try to get it into the lungs during the effots at artificial respiration. --205.188.xxx.x
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #2  
That's some scary stuff on the AC side. Still test the 9v batteries with tongue method though :)

Dave
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #4  
I use the tongue method too, just not my tongue. :D

Do your kids still talk to you? Are you still in trouble with the wife? :confused3::laughing::laughing::laughing:

I only did the test once and that was enough. :D

Later,
Dan
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #6  
As a heavy equipment operator I always wondered why electrician's had a higher pay scale. Historical fact in the beginning many in that trade did not live to retire. Or so I was told.
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #7  
WOW, just read that and went out and hugged my Fluke digital multimeter!
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #10  
I used to wire homes here in Florida. I worked with a older guy who texted light sockets for power with his fingers. He never even twitched.
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #11  
Over the last 50+ years I have probably "tested" almost every voltage out there at least once but none of that was done on purpose. Electric fences and spark plug wires are the ones that really get your attention.
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #13  
That's some scary stuff on the AC side. Still test the 9v batteries with tongue method though :)

Dave

On the AC side? :eek:

Dave - It's even scarier on the 'resuscitation' side: ...

4. Try to cause the patient to gasp by inserting the first and second fingers in the rectum, and pressing them suddenly and forcibly toward the back.

:shocked:
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #14  
This cracks me up, but no kidding, give your meter a hug. :laughing:

I didn't really go hug it but that guideline sure makes me appreciate it. I have been working in industrial electricity for over 35 years and never saw any guidelines like that! I am grateful that the Electrician's Guidelines have progressed from those years and we have nice test equipment and resuscitation methods much better than number 4 :eek:
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #15  
On the AC side? :eek:

Dave - It's even scarier on the 'resuscitation' side: ...

4. Try to cause the patient to gasp by inserting the first and second fingers in the rectum, and pressing them suddenly and forcibly toward the back.

:shocked:

Yikes!!! On the other hand that would explain some of the sparkies I worked with.....
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines
  • Thread Starter
#16  
Pretty sure it would make me "gasp"...
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #17  
Should this go in the handbook? fuse.jpg
 
   / 1942 Electrician's Handbook Guidelines #20  
A caller to the morning radio show I listen too had a story about a family member using a 22 cartridge to replace a blown fuse in a car....

Story ended as one might expect.:shocked::D:D:D

Later,
Dan
 

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