Which one is the Danger, Current or Voltage?
Lets starts from Ohms’Law.
Ohm’s Law definition:
Ohm’s Law states that the current flowing in a circuit is directly proportional to the applied potential difference and inversely proportional to the resistance in the circuit.
First let me remind the ohms law,
V= I*R
Where:
V = Voltage in Volts
I = Current in Amperes
R = Resistance in Ohm’s
Ohm’s law shows that voltage is must to flow the current in a conductive material having some amount of resistance as almost all materials having some amount of resistance to the flow of electrons through it.
Lets come to the point:
The main cause is the voltage and current as an effect is the killer at specific rate for specified period. Current will kill you but some amount of voltage is required to flow that current in the body breaking the human body resistance. In other words, an enough power is required to pass in the human body for proper electric shock.
The following level of voltage are considered safe.
AC Voltage:
25V (Wet places)
50V (Dry places)
DC Voltage:
120V DC
The following tables shows the different values of AC and DC currents in mA and its effect on the human body. Keep in mind that it is the average value and not meant to be same for everyone as it depends on different factors.
AC in mA (50Hz) | DC in mA | Effects on Human Body |
0.5 – 1.5 | 0.4 | Perception |
1.3 | 14 – 15 | Surprise |
3 – 22 | 15 – 88 | Let’s Go (Reflex Action) |
22 – 40 | 80 – 160 | 22 – 40 80 – 160 Muscular Inhibition |
40 – 100 | 160 – 300 | Respiratory Block |
More than 100 More than 300 Usually Fatal