that sig is nasty
My pinkie must have arced the current between the electrical contact and the sleeve while I was unscrewing it. It's a portable workshop lamp.
If you don't have a multimeter or voltmeter, you can test circuits by touching the hot wire (usually black) and a neutral (usually white) or ground wire (usually bare) with your index and thumb. My grandfather used to test this way. It won't kill you, it will just give you a tingling sensation between those fingers. I don't recommend doing that on voltage levels greater than 120VAC though. 240VAC hurts like hell, and 550VAC burns and kills FAST. Also, if current passes through your entire body, you must drop fast or it will stop your heart. It will seize your muscles, and you won't be able to let go/open your hands.
Last edited by walterbrunswick; 10-11-2009 at 11:55 PM.