- Reaction score
- 26
In the late 70's Two months into my apprenticeship I was shipped off to British Leyland longbridge, (yes I'm ancient)( I bet half of you havn't even heard of the long dead car co), & was told by the sparks to label all of the relays & contactors in the panel he was working on.
Half an hour into it I'm suddenly stuck on 415V; my hand having strayed across two phases of the energised open contacts of an overload relay (IP2X, in the seventies, that's unheard of!).
Seconds seemed like agonising hours & I thought this is it, all of my muscles were locked in place, I couldn't move (one reason I don't believe the stories about being thrown across the room by 240V), so just before i blacked out I shouted as loud as I could (I like to think in a ninja kind of way, & not the girly whimper that probably eminated from my rapidly bluing lips) & forced my arm & body away from the panel.
As I looked at my now smoking palm (the smell of burnt flesh; Mmm nice) the 'sparks' said nonchelantly "by the way the panels live" & went back to his mods! I was not happy
The two scars on my palm have all but faded but the valuable lesson will remain.
Half an hour into it I'm suddenly stuck on 415V; my hand having strayed across two phases of the energised open contacts of an overload relay (IP2X, in the seventies, that's unheard of!).
Seconds seemed like agonising hours & I thought this is it, all of my muscles were locked in place, I couldn't move (one reason I don't believe the stories about being thrown across the room by 240V), so just before i blacked out I shouted as loud as I could (I like to think in a ninja kind of way, & not the girly whimper that probably eminated from my rapidly bluing lips) & forced my arm & body away from the panel.
As I looked at my now smoking palm (the smell of burnt flesh; Mmm nice) the 'sparks' said nonchelantly "by the way the panels live" & went back to his mods! I was not happy
The two scars on my palm have all but faded but the valuable lesson will remain.