True.  "It's the current that kills you."
  Same idea with spark plug cables.  Maybe 30,000 volts, pretty
startling, but not very harmful unless you bang your head when you
jump.

Larry A.

On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 3:26 AM, Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@cfu.net> wrote:
> D: �Someone told me once that a static electricity shock from finger
> to door knob can have a thousand volts in it. �Just not enough
> amperage to kill. �Any thruth to that statement, oh mythbuster of the
> Vanagon list?
>
> LOL
>
> DM&FS
>
> At 06:51 PM 10/26/2009, David Beierl wrote:
>>
>> At 04:49 PM 10/26/2009, Scott Daniel - Turbovans wrote:
>>>
>>> your plug wire tester sounds useful and clever �!
>>
>> And expensive, unfortunately...
>>
>> $5 at Ocean State Job Lot just bought me a small tennis racket with a
>> button on the handle, it's meant to quick-fry houseflies. �Called
>> "The Original Bug Zapper" and claims to put out 2300 volts. �I bet
>> somebody clever could make a cheap-and-dirty megger starting with
>> that. �Somebody clever and *careful* might get to use it and live.
>>
>> Power supplies for cold-cathode fluorescent tubes are pretty common
>> now as well; I think they're good for a kv or so. �In a FLAPS, comes
>> with its own fluorescent tube though they may call it "neon."
>>
>> Serious caution -- I seriously believe that either of these power
>> supplies could kill you under the wrong circumstances, and they could
>> definitely fry any electronics in the vehicle that encounters
>> them. � �You yourself are strictly responsible for safety for
>> yourself and for others who may handle the device unknowingly and for
>> any damage caused. �IMO if you want advice on whether to build this
>> thing the answer is "no" -- the act of asking provides the answer.
>>
>> With that caveat, I will correspond privately with interested parties
>> if any. �I won't say any more about it on the list.
>>
>> Yrs,
>> D
>