True, and very important to keep in mind when working on sensitive
electronics, i.e. ECU or any other computer. It only takes 30 volts to
fry a modern memory chip, but you won't feel a zap until it's 300 V so
it's easy to fry those tiny connections before you even know about it.
A grounded wrist strap is a great way to avoid that problem.

-Peter
grounded for life

On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 1:26 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
>