Our two oldest sons are apprenticing for electricians with my oldest brother and his son. Today Jonathan, the second oldest, got the jolt of his life.
They were starting an upgrade at a new customer's industrial shop and Jonathan had thrown the main disconnect open at the panel.
He then proceeded to pull the fuses as his boss (my oldest brother) has told him he should always do when working on 600 volt. Just to prevent any stupid accidents.
Well someone had done something stupid alright. Whoever had done the original installation had put the live wires into the wrong end of the fuse holders.
When he grabbed the fuses (which were supposed to be dead) he got a 600 volt blast up his arms and across his chest.
It froze him there for a second or two and then he collapsed and hyperventilated and twitched for a while longer. He said it just tore a scream out of him like he had never before screamed. And his whole body was full of stabbing pain.
Now, all he has to show for it is two little white burn marks on his hands where he was holding onto the fuses.
Tomorrow the investigation starts as to why the panel was wired backwards by the original contractor. I would not like to be him.
Thank you, Lord, that my son is alive.