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Can you electrocute yourself with a plugged in Lightning connector?

S

Seattle1999

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jul 17, 2014
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Long story short, I was a complete idiot and put a Lightning charger in my mouth. I felt a slight tingle, but then I started getting really worried because the contacts are exposed and I touched them with my tongue. Is there a possibility that I hurt myself aside from the shock?

Thank you so much. I feel so embarrassed posting this.
 
Voltage alone will not usually kill you unless it's extremely high...I work in HVAC, mainly on the computer end of things now programming and stuff. But your regular oil burner transformers/ignitors on all furnaces are around 10,000 - 20,000 volts and techs get nailed by that all the time. Sure it will blast you across the room but your fine afterwards :D

*EDIT*

Oh and also, all it technically takes to electrocute/kill you on the current end of things is 0.1 amps. Not likely to happen, but it has happened thousands of times and that's why that number is the number settled upon.
 
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Ever put the contacts on a 9v battery on your tongue? I would think this is a similar feeling.

However, if the charger itself has a current leak like these third party chargers apple does not recommend, I would think it is possible to get a nasty shock.
 
Amps aren't there, don't worry. There is no residual effects on your body.

Aside from a choking hazard I'd advise you not to put electronics in your mouth. I'm probably the first member here to tell another member that. :)
 
The question I have... And am surprised no one has asked yet, is why the heck would you put the lightning connector end in your mouth anyway? Especially with it plugged into the wall. Was this a dare or something?
 
Seattle1999 said:
Long story short, I was a complete idiot and put a Lightning charger in my mouth. I felt a slight tingle, but then I started getting really worried because the contacts are exposed and I touched them with my tongue. Is there a possibility that I hurt myself aside from the shock?

Thank you so much. I feel so embarrassed posting this.
Click to expand...

In the service of my ongoing interest in...ah...interesting human behavior, would you mind explaining WHY you put a lightening charger in your mouth?

Purely professional interest, mind you....:rolleyes:

;)
 
I'm sorry but I have to ask, why did you put this in your mouth?

Its low voltage so the tingle you felt is the worst of the shock. Still, its probably not the best idea to put anything in your mouth that charges devices, i.e., uses electricity.
 
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Seattle1999 said:
Long story short, I was a complete idiot and put a Lightning charger in my mouth. I felt a slight tingle, but then I started getting really worried because the contacts are exposed and I touched them with my tongue. Is there a possibility that I hurt myself aside from the shock?

Thank you so much. I feel so embarrassed posting this.
Click to expand...

I'm extraordinarily curious as well. Why?
 
No, it won't hurt you. It's five volts. A 9V battery is almost twice as much and kids routinely lick them without incident.

For electricity to hurt you, you need sufficient voltage to overcome the resistance of your body to generate enough current to hurt you. The current has to flow across a vital area such as your heart or brain. You have neither situation here, either with the lightning connector or a 9V battery.

And yes, *technically* it's the current that hurts you, and not the voltage. But sufficient voltage is required to push that current through you. It doesn't start to sting until around 30-40V or so, at least on dry skin.
 
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You might be in big trouble if you stick any part of a knock-off charger into your mouth. That might include being exposed to hundreds of volts.

Apple-approved equipment is probably safe enough. They will have thought about young kids whipping out a cable and having a chew. But those guys who cut corners and churn out cheap 'clones' don't care about that kind of thing.
 
Seattle1999 said:
Long story short, I was a complete idiot and put a Lightning charger in my mouth. I felt a slight tingle, but then I started getting really worried because the contacts are exposed and I touched them with my tongue. Is there a possibility that I hurt myself aside from the shock?

Thank you so much. I feel so embarrassed posting this.
Click to expand...

I am not even going to go there and answer or ask the obvious. Good luck in the future with your experiments.
 
I'm willing to wager alcohol was involved. In any case you're still alive, you're fine. According to my parents, when I was a baby, I was sticking my fingers in wall outlets frequently, and I found ways to remove those plug covers. And I'm still here! :p
 
Probably greater fear of metal poisoning over being electrocuted. And I doubt you lost any brain cells by doing this. But then again, not really sure how many you had before hand to try this.
 
I guess the question is where did you stick it before you put it into your mouth??

5 Volts is harmless enough. Have fun.... :eek:
 
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