Which is more dangerous? 110 V or 230 V?

Question

I disagree with my professor because 110 Volts uses a GFCI ground fault circuit interruptor. His arguement was that 110 volts has more current which can kill you. I am gonna talk to him later to explain in more details but for now I want to ask you

Answer 1

230 volts is much danger than 110 volts. That is why USA and Canada use 110 volts for home for safer reason. But the electrical system shall cost more because it requires more current to do the same wattage tasks (need thick wire and cost more).

A dry and clean human hand has skin resistance vary from 50k ohms up to 200k ohms. A higher voltage (230v) is more easily to overcome this skin resistance to pass through the current beyond the safety limit compare to lower voltage (110v). THE HIGHER THE VOLTAGE,THE MORE THE DANGER TO TOUCH!!!!

Your so called professor is a book worm fool. To convince him you should suggest him to do an experiment by touching 230v and 110v with one hand (USA house has 110v wall plug and 240v wall plug for the stove and dryer).

TV screen voltage carries 24kv with current less than 0.5ma

this voltage can pass through the air with a gap of one inch and kill human easily. How your professor explain this???

Answer 2

It's not really the voltage but the current that will kill you.  I really don't know why 110 V is any MORE dangerous than 230 V.  It is essentially how many (milli)amperes you conduct through the body.

it's like asking if 3 bullets entering your body is more dangerous than 1 bullet.

Both can kill.

Answer 3

I am not sure. May be this site will help

https://answers.google.com/answers/threa... - 18k

Answer 4

V=IR .

At the same resistivity, more voltage = more current = more danger.

From personal experience 110V comparing to 220 is just a mild tickle.

Your teacher has interesting views, I wonder how he got certified...

Answer 5

what is the current? if you are using the same line and you conduct 230V over 110V then your current doubles.

I = V/R assuming R remains the same. A GFCI is only a precautionary measure. The current in the line, assuming household current is around 12A at 110V, will kill you no matter if it is 110V or 230V. No outlets in a household should be near a source of moisture without a GFCI. Most new houses have a main GFCI for 110V outlets and individual ones for 230V outlets that power your A/C, water heater, stove, etc.

Remember, It only takes a few mlliamps to stop the heart!!

... and no matter what, don't argue with your professor even though you think you're right. It is unprofessional and rude. If you want to discuss the topic, I suggest making an appointment for private office hours.

Answer 6

110 doesn't always use a GFI or GFCI.

30 volts can kill.  Anything more is 'overkill', pun intended.

110 doesn't necessarily have more current - the current is determined by the resistance of the load - in this case, the resistance of a human body.

If you have a fixed amount of power entering a transformer, the transformer will step up the voltage, but step down the current.  If you step the current down enough, by stepping the voltage up enough, eventually, you'll have very high voltage, but the current won't be sufficient enough to cause harm.

The real question is, how much current is going through the heart/body?  If it exceeds 8 mA, it is painful.  50mA or higher is potentially lethal.

Answer 7

Your professor may be correct when it comes to arc flash. The calorific values are often higher at lower voltages and  so more energy is released in an arc flash.

From a shock perspective, the higher voltage is more dangerous as it will generate a higher current through the body.

According to the HSE (UK) more people are killed from explosions associated with electricity than from shocks, backing up your professors argument.

Either voltage can have a GFCI on it.

Answer 8

Both 110 volt homes in the US and 220 volt homes in UK use GFI breakers in areas where there is water, like bathrooms and kitchens.

He is totally wrong in saying "110 has more current" and you can quote me.

What kills you is current through your body, and anything above 10-20mA has the potential of being lethal.  The path that the current takes through your body is also important.

The current that flows is determined by the voltage (more voltage, more current) and on the resistance of your body.

The resistance of your body varies a lot, it depends on where the contacts are made, how sharp the points are, how damp your skin is, etc. But bottom line is that 40 volts is enough to cause the 20mA to flow to be lethal.

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