To sense a force-field
A long time ago, when I was young and stupid, I got a large plastic tub (About 2 ft/60 cm from end to end), and taped exposed copper wires to the inside. Two wires, taped to the inside, one in each end of the tub. Then I filled it up with water from the tap, connected the wires up to the house mains, and stuck my hand in. With my hand in the water, I could regulate the ammount of current going through my hand, by turning it between 0 and 90 degrees. Didn't get painful until the hand was nearly in line between the two electrodes. Putting just two fingers in the water, the little piece of skin between the fingers, up near the hand (I'm describing that quite carefully, I think I may have some kind of hang-up about people thinking I have webbed hands or something?)... Anyway, that flap of skin would hurt quite a bit. The more of my hand or arm I stuck in the water, the more my muscles would tremble and twitch. 50Hz does that. One of my mates stuck his head in the tub, but only once, he was unwilling to repeat the experiment. Said it "Really hurt". Anyway, it all went well, but only because we were quite lucky, in hindsight...
(Lump, Thu 24 Jul 2008, 12:39, 7 replies)

I think
quite lucky is an understatement.
(Deskbound You insignificant speck of dust, Thu 24 Jul 2008, 12:47, closed)

jesuschristfuckmetodeath
that sounds dangerous.

I've never done anything that dumb. Apart from the time I defused a big WW2 shell by drilling out the detonator with a Black & Decker. At the time I remeber thinking 'at least it won't hurt'.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Thu 24 Jul 2008, 13:40, closed)

Hello!
Is that you Mick?
(Lump, Thu 24 Jul 2008, 16:28, closed)

Top tip
Why not make this experiment even more exciting by dissolving a few spoonfuls of table salt in the water?
(Prof. Moriarty put his foot in it on, Thu 24 Jul 2008, 18:39, closed)

aged 9...
i stuck a pair of nail-scissors in the shaver-socket in the downstairs toilet...

i then pressed the wee button between the socket holes, the wee button that is normally pressed by the electric shaver plug...

and promptly got 220v at 50Hz through my right hand...

which didn't actually hurt BUT scared the fuck out of me and gave me a nasty case of hand-cramp.

never told anyone this until now.

and have a click x for bravery!
( blaireau69 , the Cumbrian Travis Bickle., Thu 24 Jul 2008, 20:39, closed)

but...
How did you stop the fuse/RCD from blowing/tripping? Inquiring minds want to know.
(Rich T has a clever and witty sig, Thu 24 Jul 2008, 20:47, closed)

Hi, no not Mick.
I think the answer to the RCD questions lies in 'a long time ago'.

When I were a lad what you did with the electricity in your own home was your business, as long as there were enough shillings in the meter.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Fri 25 Jul 2008, 12:13, closed)