Can I receive an electric shock from my low voltage renewable energy system?

As little as 20V together with the right circumstances can cause 20mA (0.02 amp) to flow through your body causing a severe shock. The strength of an electric shock can depend on such factors as wetness of skin, area of contact, duration of contact, constitution of the victim and whether the victim is well grounded.

Two or more photovoltaic panels (solar panels) in series or an unregulated wind turbine can generate a dangerous voltage.

Electric Shock Hazard - Current Level Perception - Tingle, Warmth 1.0 ma AC 6.0 ma DC Shock - Retain muscle control; reflex may cause injury 2.0 ma AC 9.0 ma DC Severe Shock - Lose muscle control; cannot let-go; burns; asphyxia 20 ma AC 90 ma DC Ventricular Fibrillation 100 ma AC 500 ma DC Heart Frozen - Body temperature rises; death occurs in minutes 1000 ma AC 1000 ma DC

Every electric shock does you harm, depending on the length and severity of the shock, injury can include; ? burns to internal tissue ? burns to the skin ? electrical interference to the heart which could cause the heart to stop

Symptoms of electric shock include

? unconsciousness ? difficulty breathing or no breathing at all ? a week, erratic pulse or no pulse at all ? burns, particularly extreme at entry and exit points or the electrical current ? evidence of fractures

There is only one safe way to handle bare electrical components and that is after they are isolated and proved so with a voltmeter.

Further reading

http://www.sandia.gov/pv/docs/ESafetyIntro.htm scroll to 3.2.2

http://www.parasolemt.com.au/Manual/electricshock.html