Charles F Dalziel's study on electric shock - 1961
Ever wonder how electrical safety standards were developed? It's study time!
Everyone,
Here’s the study on the effects of electric shock on humans by Charles F. Dalziel from 1961 which helped lead to the development of electrical grounding codes and GFCI protection.
Remember, this was during a time when most electrical devices such as radios, television sets and guitar amplifiers were not grounded at all, and it was customary to feel a shock when touching anything plugged into an electrical outlet. This study has contributed to grounding improvements in the National Electrical Code and saved countless lives. It’s a fascinating report about experimenting with electric shock levels on human volunteers. Ouch!
You can download the entire 41 page study below and pages 24 to 30 show the actual test procedures. It’s a pretty deep read but fascinating.
Let’s play safe out there…. Mike
I remember seeing an illustration of a large man holding pliers in each hand to complete a circuit with a light bulb. I don't remember if it was a picture or video, though. My Dad was an electrical engineer and we built a 4H display project showing the dangers of ungrounded power tools. The man illustration in the large lit box was named "Joe Blowfuse"
Ditto! VERY interesting! As one who deals with patients in ventricular fibrillation on a fairly (unfortunately) regular basis, intriguing to see the study and results! Thanks for sharing!