Danger of electric shock from batteries in small boats?
Bill Kearney wrote:
It's almost impossible to be injured by low voltage sources like 12v
batteries. That's one of the reasons a lot of outdoor and pool
lighting is low voltage. You might get a tingle that surprises you if
your are soaking wet and touch both battery terminals.
Bull****. You go get yourself wet and put your hands on the battery
terminals. You'll get a a HELLUVA shock from the amperage that's present.
I've got to disagree. Back when I was in the used car business, I must
have swapped out
500 batteries, and some of that work was done standing on wet pavement.
If you accidentally get a wrench across both terminals you can generate
a hot enough spark to pit the wrench and distort the terminal (go ahead
and ask me how I know), but enough current doesn't travel from the
wrench and up through your arm to even create a mild sensation of
shock. I don't recall ever hearing of a single incident where anybody
was ever killed or injured by touching both posts of a 12-volt battery
at the same time.
The guy with the kayak needs an AGM battery so he can turn that thing
upside down once in a while without spilling acid all over.
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