Is 5000 Volts at 1mA Safe? What's the Maximum mA?

[m718]

Is 5000 volts at 1mA safe if accidentally touched, if so, up to how many mA is safe at this voltage?

 

[mgb_phys]

We probably don't want to give safety advice to people in countries with lawyers.

1mA would probably be safe under most circumstances - the question is how are you limiting it to 1mA?
Is there any way a much more dangerous current to be passed if a component failed?

 

[Bob S]

We probably don't want to give safety advice to people in countries with lawyers.

1mA would probably be safe under most circumstances - the question is how are you limiting it to 1mA?
Is there any way a much more dangerous current to be passed if a component failed?

Be ABSOLUTELY sure that there is no stored energy (capacitance) anywhere. See Table 1 in attached

http://euverc.colostate.edu/safetytests/High_Voltage_Safety_Manual.pdf

Just in case, put a 5 or 10 meg resistor in series.

Bob S

 

[m718]

Be ABSOLUTELY sure that there is no stored energy (capacitance) anywhere. See Table 1 in attached

http://euverc.colostate.edu/safetytests/High_Voltage_Safety_Manual.pdf

Just in case, put a 5 or 10 meg resistor in series.

Bob S

I will use voltage multiplier to get the high voltage, are the capacitors in the multiplier safe or are those the capacitance your talking about?

 

[vk6kro]

Those capacitors, and especially the last one, would make the supply very risky and that is why Bob suggested putting some large resistance in series with the output.
Because even 1 watt resistors have maximum ratings of about 500 volts or less, you would need at least 10 of them in series to get some safety.

However, work on the principle that 5000 volts is NEVER safe unless you can prove that it is.
You won't get any second chances.

A small current may not kill you immediately, (or it might) but you can't tell what effects it has long term on your body.

 

[m718]

What are the current levels in those shock you get by touching a car sometimes, it must be near 5000 volts or more and they are safe. Would it be safer if I used a transformer to step up the voltage?.

 

[mheslep]

1-10-100 rule, which states that

... you can feel 1 mA (1 milliampere or 1/1000 amp) of current through your body. 10 mA is sufficient enough to make your muscle contract to the point where you can't let go of the power source, (just like my illustration in the Introduction). And 100 mA is sufficient enough to stop your heart

http://www.ehow.com/how_5834615_avoid-electric-shock.html