You are not likely to feel anything at all with 12VDC.
Clearing Evic Trouble Report
I had my 1st evic trouble code this weekend just after going thru a carwash. My 3rd (high-mount) brake light bulb got fried as a result of a poor seal of the brake light/cargo light. I replaced the bulb. Now, how do I clear the trouble code indication off the dash display?
1 - 3 of 15 Posts
I didn't feel anything. Here is why...Go hold the pos terminal and then touch the frame of the truck . Report back your findings..
1. It is current passing through tissue that causes pain, not the voltage.
2. The DC current threshold for pain is about 5mA.
3. Skin resistance is what determines the current for a given voltage. In this case 12VDC.
4. Skin resistance is not constant and can vary from ~1K ohms to several
100K ohms. Usually dry non-abraded skin is in the range of ~50K ohms to ~100K ohms and higher. Sweaty hands can be lower.
5. The current that will flow with 12V and 50K ohms is I=12V/50K=0.2mA and that is ~1/20th the threshold for pain.
7. The bottom line is that unless your hands have low resistance, <5K ohms, no pain will be felt. If you have an open cut or sore on your fingers you probably will. If you have wet hands, you may feel pain. If you have felt a shock from 12VDC, then you have unusually low resistance skin, which is not normal.
Working as an engineer in a lab, for 38 years, we considered 50VDC to be the threshold for getting more than a tingle and had to guard any exposed voltages greater than that. From OSHA - "live parts of electric equipment operating at 50 volts or more shall be guarded against accidental contact".
Lastly, have you ever seen a warning sign under the hood of a vehicle that says Warning Shock Hazard?
No i havent. but iv been shocked before
Good catch ED_Lover! Actually, I just used a off the top of my head number for total skin resistance and figured no one would call me out for references.
If mattyj want's to see what a shock really feels like, try touching a spark plug wire while the engine is running. We used to do that for fun...
1 - 3 of 15 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Diesel RAM Forum
A forum community dedicated to Ram 1500 diesel owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, ecodiesel, towing capacity, reviews, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Recommended Communities
