Now I’m scared! Very valid points though and whacking some sort of insulation on that steel is an easy start.
Like almost everyone on here I knew to always remove the -ve terminal first. On one occasion only ever, I failed to do that. I had been wiring up a Walas Cooker into a 24V Landrover 101 Forward Control Radio Body some time in the early 1990s and had not completely finished the job. We where about to go away on an Off Road Holiday. The other half asked if I had connected it up yet because we should have been away. In the haste I did things the wrong way around and I knew it but carried on anyway. So very carefully I cradled the spanner with my fist in such a way so as not to earth the spanner out on the aluminium battery box.
All of a sudden, was a huge explosion, smoke filled the vehicle. I smashed my head on the roof and smoke was coming from my finger! At first there was a huge amount of pain, then just as suddenly as it came, it stopped. I ran into the house, my wife was extremely concerned as I bounced against the walls f--- ing and b----ing on the way to the bathroom to poor cold water over my hand. There was smoke still coming off my finger in the bathroom before I washed it down. I had also burnt my lip because I instinctively brought my burning finger to my mouth, it was a reaction reflex
My wedding ring which I had forgotten about, was almost but not quiet cut right open by the electric current. My finger was a mess I could see the flexor tendons underneath the sloughy mess and an almost circumferential electric burn to my ring finger. I was in complete shock, my wife wanted to drive me to the hospital but I knew I had to get the ring off so I tried to cut it off with a hack saw. I did not manage it. Instead I went to the hospital saw all the guys and gals in casualty who I knew very well. It was all a big joke to me and to them until the self applied dressing was removed. The Cas officer was shocked and the charge nurse said that he would admit me for surgery now! Even though I could see the damage and cognitively I knew what that meant with the burn especially as it was circumferential, I just could not accept it. It was a very weird thing like watching a film, it was so unreal.
Anyway I was admitted but I discharged myself in the night. Stuff this I thought. I knew and was told I would very likely loose my finger. However I also had confidence in my own recovery. I very rarely scar and heal from wounds exceptional quickly. My main concern was circulation and infection. I Went to my GP who dressed it daily and so it healed. The GP later told me years later that she fear the loss of the finger and gangrene which I know as I have seen it so many times is not very pleasant to say the least.
My wedding ring is now cut right across, I was a fascination for some time with my friends at the hospital and after 30 years I only have slight scaring on a finger that was nearly blown off. Physically that is it! On the other foot however
physiologically, that was another matter, it cause long term fear avoidance of anything electrical certainly on a vehicle. Which is very weird. Even now I double check everything and I have even rapped insulation tape completely around a socket wrench and still feel extremely uncomfortable and sweat when undoing battery terminals.
If I see anyone warring a ring who is working on electrics, I will always advise them to take it off or rap insulation tape around the ring and then I worry about them. Why because very few males listen, they beleive it wont happen to them. they just laugh and carry on.
There are the very beginnings of a crack, so fingers crossed it can be repaired, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm not driving anywhere in it until the windscreen man comes on Monday.
