Current Electricity

Let’s use the analogy of a flowing river. Here, voltage will be equated to the steepness or pitch of the river while amperage will be equated with the volume of the water in the river.

An electrical current with high voltage but very low amperage can be seen as a very narrow, small river flowing nearly vertical, like a tiny trickle of a waterfall. It would have little potential to really hurt you. But a large river with lots of water (amperage) can drown you even if the speed of flow (voltage) is relatively slow.

It is clear now that amperage creates the risk of an electrical shock. Below is a summary of effects of electrical shocks with their amperage levels.

1 to 10 mA: Little or no electrical shock is felt.

10 to 20 mA: Painful shock, but muscle control is not lost.

20 to 75 mA: Serious shock, including a painful jolt and loss of muscle control; the victim cannot let go of wire or another source of shock.

75 to 100 mA: Ventricular fibrillation (uncoordinated twitching of ventricles) of the heart can occur.

100-200 mA: Ventricular fibrillation occurs, often resulting in death.

Over 200 mA: Severe burns and severe muscle contractions occur. Internal organs can be damaged. The heart can stop due to chest muscles applying pressure to the heart, but this clamping effect can prevent ventricular fibrillation, greatly improving the chances of survival if the victim is removed from the electrical circuit.

In conclusion, follow all standard safety procedures for all electrical work to avoid risk of electrical shock.