I Just Got Electrocuted!

I was hunting for a lighter at a local shop when I stumbled upon this odd 2-in-1 gadget. When I asked the clerk what the deal was, she just said it gives you a little "spark" when you press it. I didn't realize she meant an actual electric shock.
I, being the genius that I am, actually tested it. The voltage was over 50V—maybe even closer to 95V. It gave me quite a jolt. To make matters worse, I held it in my left hand, right over my heart. Now, several hours later, my heart won't stop racing, my fingertips are stinging, and I feel a bit shaky. I'm not joking; this actually happened.

Maybe just call 911 and ask instead of wasting time typing stuff out on the internet?

You still alive over there? 🙂

Wait, 50V at the cigarette lighter???
On a different note... I’ve actually gotten shocked from an outlet (120V) a couple of times now, and honestly, nobody else seemed to notice.

It didn't just stress me out... it shook me to my core.

A few years back. They told me it would take a little longer, but now I'd be looking down on all of you from above...

😂 😂 😂

1 post.... 🙏 🙏

I can't believe she just remembered this Reddit thread exists😕 🙄

Since placidtrucker47 only has one single post under their belt, I'm sure they’re a seasoned veteran here...
But honestly, it doesn't matter—I'll try to answer those who actually care about the physics.
To complete an electrical circuit, you need a closed loop.
Essentially, if the positive source is in your right hand, the current travels through your body—passing straight through your heart—and exits via the left hand touching the negative terminal of the device.
The human body varies wildly from person to person; people can feel voltages starting at just 1 Volt and going much higher, depending entirely on whether we're talking DC or AC and what the frequency is.
Crucial factors include the amperage and, of course, how long the shock lasts.
Some people are incredibly sensitive—there are cases where even 12V could be fatal under specific conditions—while others might shrug off several thousand volts...
Just don't go playing scientist like Luigi Galvani.
An electric shock can trigger cardiac fibrillation—correct me if I'm wrong on the technicalities, doctors...
That's when the heart starts racing uncontrollably, which can lead to death.
At that point, you'd need to defibrillate the heart with another shock—if someone's lucky enough to be brought back, they live; if not, well, goodbye.

Bottom line:
Our friend placidtrucker47 heard something about this topic somewhere and is now just poking both the experts and the amateurs to see who bites.
placidtrucker47 is probably just some corporate clone...
And frankly, that's more of a psychiatric issue than a scientific one.

steelsailor17 said:And honestly, we’re drifting straight into psychiatric territory at this point.

Honestly, this is way better than some weird occult nonsense! 🤣

steelsailor17 said:Since placidtrucker47 only has one single post, they’re clearly a seasoned veteran here... obviously.
But whatever, I'll try to answer the folks who actually care.
To complete a circuit, you need a loop.
Basically, the current goes from the positive terminal in the right hand, through the body—straight through the heart—and hits the negative terminal on the left hand.
The human body varies, obviously—some people might feel a voltage as low as 1 Volt, though it really depends on whether we're talking DC or AC and what the frequency is.
The amperage and how long the shock lasts are huge factors too.
Some people are super sensitive—12V could potentially kill them under the right circumstances—while others can shrug off a few thousand volts...
Just don't go playing around like you're some mad scientist in a lab.
If you get hit, you risk cardiac fibrillation—feel free to correct me if any of the medical details are off...
That's when the heart starts fluttering uncontrollably and things go south fast.
Then you have to try and defibrillate the heart with another shock, and well... if you're lucky, you wake up. If not? Peace out.

Bottom line:
Our friend placidtrucker47 heard something about this somewhere and is now just poking at both the experts and the amateurs.
placidtrucker47 is probably just someone's clone.
And honestly, that's more of a psychiatric issue than anything else...

And why does the circuit have to go from the plus in one hand through the body to the minus in the other??? If you grab a power source with one hand—say your thumb is on the positive and any other finger is on the negative—you still have a closed circuit. So yeah, it's totally possible.

fadedpanther8
There are countless ways to complete an electrical circuit—this was merely one example illustrating how it can be closed through the cardiac muscle...

Joseph Fisher2 said:😂 😂 😂

1 post.... 🙏 🙏

Just remembered I had an account on Reddit.😕 🙄

Thanks for the help, everyone.🙂)
This wasn't a joke. I gave someone a lighter that actually has a voltage setting. I tested it myself once, and my heart started racing and I was shaking for about twelve hours straight. This wasn't meant to be a prank or anything.
The voltage was set below 100V, but everyone reacts differently. It’s a neat gadget, but if you're thinking about buying something similar to play a joke on someone—or even if you're just messing around like I was—think twice.

I'll be back on the forums.🙂))

If you don't mind me asking, how exactly did you measure that 100V spike?
Was it DC or AC—and more importantly, how long does that surge actually last?
I'm also curious where you even picked this thing up and what it looks like in person.
It sounds like the whole point of this switch is just to give whoever flips it a nasty shock...
?
And is it actually possible to start a fire with something like that—considering most people would probably jump out of their skin from the shock alone?

steelsailor17 said:If you don't mind me asking, how did you measure that 100V spike?
Was it DC or AC, and how long does the charge last?
Also, where did you pick this thing up and what’s the actual design?
It sounds like the whole point of this lighter is just to shock whoever uses it.
?
And could someone actually start a fire with it, considering the user jumps when they get zapped?

The voltage is printed on the bottom of the lighter—not entirely sure of the exact spec. It shouldn't be left running for more than 20 seconds. There's a toggle switch at the base for "turn off" and "turn on"; if it's set to "off," it functions like a standard lighter, but if it's on "turn on," it delivers a shock. Instead of a flame, it activates an electrical current. Not recommended for children or anyone with heart conditions. I eventually settled on a 23V model. Picked it up in San Francisco at a local shop called Target.🙂)

So, we’re looking at two different models here—one at 100V and another at 23V.
Is there any way to get a photo? If people even post images on this forum, that is... I'd really like to see what this thing actually looks like. 🙄

It’s got 11, not 1. Go get your eyes checked at the optometrist.