I was a Radar Tech in the Navy. One time just as we were returning to port, our Nav Radar went down. Another tech and I troubleshot it to a bad connector a trigger cable. Being tube equipment, if you turned it off, you’d have a 5 min or so wait on power up. Just before cutting into the cable with my trusty Case Trapper knife, I asked my lead how bad was I going to get bit. I remember him saying, Triggers, 5 to 50 volt spikes, go ahead. Once that knife blade contacted the center conductor, the knife flew across the room and bounced off the bulkhead right next to shipmate. I retrieved the knife, taped it up good a did the repair.
I was watching a shipmate work on the fathometer that was mounted about chest high on the bulkhead. He got across the 4,000Volt B+ supply. He flew back several feet onto his back. He was shaking like a chicken with his head cut off. Then it stopped as he looked up at everyone watching him. He said, “ I’m going to go get a cup of coffee”. That fool acted like nothing had happened. Not me boy! I get the shakes after getting zotted.
a navy electrician friend who just passed away. told stories about how he tested sockets on the ship by wetting his finger and sticking in the light socket. i think he had a high level tolerance for voltage.
When I was in the Navy we had a yardbird working on the 30MC down in the magazine. He came up and walked slowly into the shop, sat down and shakily lit a cigarette. After a couple of drags he looked up and said, “That 440 ain’t no joke.”