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Thread: Electrocuted by Gameboy charger

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    Has all the piri-piri! GeorgeTuk's Avatar
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    Not wanting to upset anyone about something which is a tragedy but I am pretty sure there is a warning on almost electrical device about using different currents, admittedly its normally in the manual which no one reads, it shouldn't have to be written in big letters on every device.

    I remember in school being taught all about the dangers of electricity, talking to my girlfriend niece and nephew (8 and 13 resp.) and they have never done, electrical safety, water safety or things about strangers, it was the de-rigeur in my day (about 13 years ago) and it scared bejesus out of us. No time for that now, you gotta be coaching them for exams.

    Stealth Geek - And Proud!

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    WEEEEEEEEEEEEE! MadduckUK's Avatar
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    wouldnt the kid still have got a shock (to a lesser or greater extent) wherever this happened? its still just an A/C current no?
    Quote Originally Posted by Ephesians
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    The King of Vague Steve B's Avatar
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    it depends, the article does not say how he was shocked. if you pull the plug, and put your fingers round the plastic and touch the pins, you can quite easily twang yourself. ive almost done it, and it was the scariest thing i've done in my life. if he was wet, it doesn't take much, he doesn't even need to touch the live pin.

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    Bah Humbug. Dooms's Avatar
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    not good at all.


    "There should be some kind of warning about the different electrical currents you get abroad because this would not have happened in England."

    As George pointed out there is warning about everything like this in manuals whenever you buy electrical goods, plus its common sense that when you are using an adapter / converter to plug your stuff in things are obviously different.

    It does sound a bit dodgy to me, something went wrong... you dont just get electrocuted. I mean either soemthing was wrong with the wall socket, adapter, charger or gameboy... or the kid WAS wet from swimming / being silly.

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    WEEEEEEEEEEEEE! MadduckUK's Avatar
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    i dont think there wa an adapter, story says the charger was purchased in Thailand. someones not tellingthe whole truth here
    Quote Originally Posted by Ephesians
    Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit
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    Moderator chuckskull's Avatar
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    Yeah theres a lot of bits missing from the article. Sad the kid died, but if you yank a plug without turning off the socket it's possible to a get a shock(in any country). Rare, but it does happen.

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    Far too vague to work out what really happened. Too many possibilities not enough information.

    Does anyone know if children are still informed of the basics like the dangers of electricity? If they're not even teaching them things like 'turn off the socket before removing the plug' then this country really is going to pot .

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    Grumpy and VERY old :( g8ina's Avatar
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    While I feel sympathy, the comment re currents in different countries is totally meaningless !

    Stick your fingers in a mains socket anywhere in the world and it will (OK, more than likely will) kill you ! But I agree, we really need more info on this story before being fully able to pass meaningful comments.

    I've had jolts of up to 32,000 volts while working at Decca in the early 70s from the back of 26" colour TV tubes, but as my owd gaffer always said : "it's the volts that jolts, but it's the mils that kills" (milliamps)

    http://www.ibiblio.org/obp/electricC...s/DC/DC_3.html
    shows a lot of good electrical theory on this subject.
    Cheers, David



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    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Speedo View Post
    Does anyone know if children are still informed of the basics like the dangers of electricity? If they're not even teaching them things like 'turn off the socket before removing the plug' then this country really is going to pot .
    Agreed on this. However i'm not sure what style of mains sockets they use oaver there. I think the UK is pretty unusual in actually having a switch on the front. the US, Europe and Scandinavia don't have any. you just pull the plug straight out.

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    WEEEEEEEEEEEEE! MadduckUK's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Funkstar View Post
    Agreed on this. However i'm not sure what style of mains sockets they use oaver there
    according to GIS, and theres only one pic so not very well verified...
    Quote Originally Posted by Ephesians
    Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit
    Vodka

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    i dont get it, how can they blame voltages when UK is 240v, if it was 110v or 240v is wouldnt have caused any adverse reaction, his fingers must have been wet...

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    Cable Guy Jonny M's Avatar
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    It's incredibly difficult to get electrocuted in the UK - if current starts flowing through you to ground then the circuit breakers will notice the difference and kill the supply.

    Probably dodgy wiring.

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    radix lecti dave87's Avatar
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    I gotta say, how many times when you are in the UK do you turn things off at the wall before unplugging them? Very rarely I would say, especially when on an extension lead....

    As people have said there are inconsistencies in the story, and as such its hard to draw a conclusion...

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    DILLIGAF GoNz0's Avatar
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    just makes me wonder as the hotel i went to in cuba was very up to date, sockets marked out, breakers in the room and proper earthing..
    if the hotel has an international rating they are normally up to spec, and the hotel in questions only 3 years old.

    i hope they find out what went wrong so it doesnt happen again

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    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
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    oooo. i don't like the look of those plugs or sockets, it looks far too easy to touch the contacts while removing the plug to me. No earth on there either.

    Someone can correct me if i'm wrong here, it's been a while since i did this at Uni. But, you half the voltage so you have to double the current to get the same energy into the appliance. So with 110v you are reducing the kick of the sock, but doubling the likely hood of the current doing you some damage.

    That sound right to anyone else?

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