RE: Of Mice and HV (fwd)

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Original poster: Steven Roys <sroys@xxxxxxxxxx>



---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 13 Apr 2006 18:01:41 -0400
From: alfred erpel <alfred@xxxxxxxxx>
To: 'High Voltage list' <hvlist@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Of Mice and HV (fwd)

 Matt,

	I think it is the amperage which kills.  I believe I heard that .035
amps is what it takes to arrest the human heart.  Of course the voltage is
necessary to deliver the amps.  I am going to GUESS that a fully charged 270
uf capacitor at approximately 300 volts as exists in a standard disposable
flash camera will zap a mouse to mousey heaven if discharged between its
fore limbs and hind limbs.  
	I have taken these cameras apart and gotten bitten bad by a residual
50 volts or so.
	Great idea by the way and best of luck.

Al Erpel



[stuff snipped]

> 
> Does anyone have any idea what minimum voltage I would need 
> to apply to guarantee fatal fibrillation?
> 
> I had considered powering from a disposable camera supply (no 
> microcontroller - simply pulse the start button when the neon 
> goes out) but, whilst photoflash capacitors can give us a 
> ghastly bite, is the 300V or so enough to take out a mouse in 
> its insulating fur coat?  I've serviced equipment before 
> where mice have gone in a mains (240V) PSU and have blown the 
> fuses but am still unsure about the certainty of a clean kill.