Is this dangerous?

[KennyG]

198 people in the US die every year by licking 9volt batteries to see if they are good.

It can't happen with normal alkaline batteries because the battery internal resistance is too high. They can't discharge fast enough across skin resistance, even with a wet surface.

Rechargeables are more dangerous, but not because of shock. They have a much lower internal resistance so, when they are shorted, they can generate lots of heat. I've cut plastic with a couple of AA NiMH batteries and a piece of wire from a toaster. If you carry rechargeables in your pocket and accidently short them out, you can start a fire in your pants.

 

[Duffster]

Hey Duffster, Ladia left his puter logged on again! I want to thank you all for your replies. I do love this man and I want to spend many more years together working on our place. I think he would like to at least, see his new shop completed...never mind our first grandchild being born this summer! You don't know this man but he is one of a kind...a good kind, mostly. He is known for cutting down neighbors trees with chainsaw in shorts and barefoot and welding in his sandals. Luckily, I am there to make sure he has a ride to the hospital Though, we haven't had to drive there...too fast, too often... Thanks again guys and gals? We women can wield a mean tool, too! Julie

You should still be in the corner.

 

[Redneck in training]

Well guys in spite of trying I am still alive and in good health. All scars are healed and I have few "war stories" to tell. To add something to my defense I had the tombstone partially off. Only the feed from the transformer connected to two top terminals were hot. I only pulled the cable in and it will be connected only after I install the breaker box in the shop currently under construction. I dug the 70 ft of the trench 2 ft deep by hand meandering between wife's flowers. Some water seeped in it so the cable and the ground around was wet and slippery. So it was possible if I would slip while pulling the cable in I could hit the hot terminals. Well life is full of dangers.
My wife knows a thing or two about electric installation. In fact she wired our whole house few years back.

Somebody mentioned that the second shock is what will get you in. One time I just pricked my finger by sharp wire that had no voltage on it. While instinctively jerking my hand away I smashed it right into hot terminals.