Originally Posted by maxcichon

OK. Good one.

My first lesson was ~ 6 months into my last job. I built particle accelerators for 22 years.
We would perform "charging tests" on the open machine with the HV terminal grounded. This would allow one to visually inspect the chain/inductor spacing for sparking. No more than 6 kvdc, and you knew where it was. No problem.
Until the ground clip you put on a 1/4-20 screw falls off with your hand on the terminal.
It's friggin' amazing how fast the terminal will go for 2 mV. Darned little current, but a long time of being laughed at is the end result. The last spark will CHASE YOU for 5-10 feet.

Pelletron - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pelletron® Accelerator Charging System



My last "life lesson" was 3 years ago. My co-worker offered to unplug the live 208/30A circuit I was working on.
"Nah-I've got it". I was holding a grounded 1-8 threaded rod. My forearm contacted 2 separate 208/30 amp poles on 2 breakers.
I ended up with 10 really cool parallel cuts in my palm from the threads, a bent back from me arching, and a hole in my tongue from me chomping through it.
OK-I'm a slow learner.

BTW-Alaxfire came over today and showed me how to install these neat new "F1 Blinky lights". Very cool!