How many volts of electricy can kill a person?

Answer 1

A simple experiment to show voltage as ultimately harmless is to track across carpet then touch metal. The shock that you receive from this can easily exceed 12,000 Volts, and can be in the high 20's. There is no real current to this shock though, and the duration of exposure is also negligible. Current is the amount of charge that passes through a plane, where as voltage represents the difference of potential energy between source and its ground (you in this case would be the path to ground). Current is roughly equivalent to Voltage divided by resistance. Meaning the higher resistance is, the lower the current which is harmful product. Your house (in the United States) provides 110-117VAC at 60 Hz to all of your outlets. What you need to look at here is the 60 Hz. Because 60 Hz so closely matches the pace of the heart, this frequency is HIGHLY dangerous, as when the current passes your heart it can cause fibrilation. Now, if you have ever done any household electric work, you have likely touched a hot wire before and been fine. Most outlets and sources still do not have a ton of current through them. Also, the sudden shock causes you to jolt back minimizing the duration and protecting the heart. Were you to grab and hold on to these wires, you would likely die from it. In avionics, I know that 400 Hz frequency is generally used, and this is far safer to work with, as it is far less likely to cause fibrilation. Higher current sources though will still cook a person in a matter of seconds. With all of this in mind, your question asks what is the lowest amount of volts that can kill you. Because resistance of each persons body is different, the amount of current produced from a voltage source will differ depending on who is touching it, and how they are exposed to it. Were a small child to latch on to an active AC source with even 30-40 Volts, it could be deadly (fibrilation can still occur at lower voltages and cause death). For DC, the voltage would be approximately the same, but the primary path of the current would have to be through the body to be dangerous at all. For an adult, you would be looking at 40-50 Volts.

Answer 2

Voltage does not kill, amperage kills. Voltage is a measure of potential energy, while amperage is a measure of moving electrons.

In general, the more voltage that is present, the more amperage there will be. But this is not always the case. A stun gun has a high voltage but little available amperage.

So, the correct question is "How much amperage can kill a man?". The answer varies, but should be around .1A to stop a heart.

Answer 3

It can be as little as 90v, depending on the circumstances and where it is applied.

It's the current that can kill you. Only 20mA, which is two hundredths of an Amp, will kill you.

What links the two is Ohms law and the resistance of your body.

For a given resistance of the skin, the higher the voltage, the more current will flow.

What is the resistance of your skin?

That varies so much and of course being damp will reduce your resistance. That's why water is dangerous near electricity.

I have often checked a 9v PP3 battery by sticking my tongue on it. If it tingles your tongue, it's still got life in it.

I was recently told by a paramedic, that this is dangerous as the small current could go via your brain and cause a seizure. So theoretically 9v could do it. You'd have to be very unlucky though.

Answer 4

volts dont kill you

However amps do.

(amps are always present in volts though.)

I think it is about 13 amps that can kill you, possible that it is the standard 3amps I cant really remember sorry, was 3 years ago since I last learned that.

Answer 5

It is not the voltage that kills it is the amperage. Remember that 1 amp is equal to 1000 milliamps.

Less than 1/2 milliamp no sensation

1/2 to 2 milliamperes Threshold of perception

2 to 10 milliamperes muscular contraction

5 to 25 milliamperes painful shock (may not be able to let go)

Over 25 milliamperes Could be violent muscular contraction

50 to 100 milliamperes Ventricular fibrillation

over 100 paralysis of breathing.

Answer 6

It depends on the current (measured in Amperes, or Amps for shorter) in the circuit. It is the current that burns not the voltage.

Answer 7

It isn't the voltage that kills you, its the level of amps. And it doesn't take much amps. 1/10th of an amp can do you in.

Answer 8

don't know hahaha lol

Answer 9

alot alot