Will a Man Get an Electric Shock If He Hangs on a Live Wire?

If a Person Grips a Single Live Wire with Both Hands, Will They Get Shocked?

If a person hangs onto a live wire with two hands and does not touch the ground or any other conductive material, they may not receive a shock. This is similar to the case of birds setting and squirrels running on live power lines without being electrocuted.

Another similar scenario is when a lineman works on a live wire without getting an electric shock. It is important to note that prior to repair, maintenance, and troubleshooting, they equalize the potential of the helicopter with respect to the live wire using a rod.

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Why Doesn’t a Person Get Electrocuted When Hanging from a Live Wire?

The human body has a good resistance to low voltage, up to 50V AC in dry conditions and 25V in wet conditions. It has approximately 100,000Ω to 600,000Ω for dry skin and 1000Ω for wet skin. The amount of current equal to or more than 30mA is enough for respiratory paralysis, while 75-100 mA will cause ventricular fibrillation. In short, anything above 300mA is fatal and kills in seconds. 4.5 to 10A will instantly lead to cardiac arrest.

Now, suppose a person touches the live (phase, line, or hot) conductor while in the air or standing on a strong insulated material (such as a rubber or wooden chair), meaning they are only connected to the line wire. When the current reaches the point where the human body is attached to the conductor, the current will not flow through the human body because it chooses the path of least resistance as well as the circuit is not completed.

In this case, the electric current will only flow through the phase conductor because it has almost zero resistance (R1) compared to the human body which has high resistance (R2), as shown in the figure below.

• Related Post: Why Don’t Birds and Squirrels Get Electrocuted on Power Lines?

Never Ever Touch Any Wire Under Any Circumstances

The above scenario is very dangerous and unpredictable. Electricity can behave in unexpected ways, and there is a risk that the person could inadvertently touch the Neutral or another Phase wire having different potential or a metal object or another conductor, which could lead to a shock. It’s important to always assume that any contact with live electrical wires is hazardous and to avoid such situations altogether.

If a person hangs onto a live wire with one hand and touches another wire (i.e., neutral or another live conductor) or any other grounding conductive material (e.g., pole or tower) with the second hand or any part of their body, or in case they touch one phase conductor and the ground (earth) by means of any part of their body, completing the circuit, they are likely to get shocked.

In this case, the circuit is completed (like connecting a load in parallel to the live and neutral), hence electricity will flow through the body, potentially causing injury or death. It’s important to never touch a live wire or electrical equipment without proper training and safety measures in place.

Always use a multimeter or phase tester to check the voltage and current values of different wires. Wear gloves and rubber shoes while working with wires. For proper safety, switch off the main breaker in the main panel and consumer board before performing electrical repairs or maintenance.

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