Which is More Dangerous AC or DC?

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Have you ever had an electric shock? Well, many people think that DC current is more dangerous than AC current as far as an Electric shock is concerned. Let’s find the answer, which is more dangerous AC or DC?

But Before that, let’s understand the basics of AC and DC current. We have a detailed article on AC and DC Current

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AC Current

An alternating current flow in the sinewave (as shown in the figure below) pattern. The current switches direction back and forth. We can find an AC current in household appliances, lights, fans, etc.

DC Current

Direct current flows in only one direction (shown below). It can be found in electronic circuits, batteries, etc.

Let me tell you that apart from the type of current, the severity of an electric shock depends on other factors also. Such as,

Amount of Current

For example, an electric shock with an alternating current of 15 to 20 milliamperes can be extremely painful. However, an electric shock with 100 milliamperes may cause death.

Path of Current

The current passing from the right hand to the right leg can be painful. But when it passes from the right hand to the left hand through the heart may cause ventricular fibrillation. This condition is usually fatal.

Time Duration

An electric shock with a small amount of current (e.g. 0.3 milliamperes) can also cause a painful effect if it is held for a longer duration.

Body Resistance

The resistance offered by the wet body to electric shock is less as compared to the dry body.

Why Does the Human Body Feel an Electric Shock?

This is quite interesting to know. The current penetrates the body through the skin. The outermost layer of the skin epidermis is composed of a protein material called keratin.

Keratin offers the highest resistance to the passage of electricity. After the epidermis layer, we have sweat glands and then blood vessels. These sweat glands and blood vessels constitute of various ions, which are good conductors of electricity.

Hence, blood vessels and sweat glands offer low resistance to the passage of electricity.

Now the question arises, how current reaches and travels through the body?

Answering the above question, the outermost layer of the skin epidermis acts as a dielectric, the internal sweat glands and tissues act like one plate of capacitors, and a metal piece carrying electric current acts like another plate of the capacitor. Due to this capacitive effect, current passes through the body. Rapidly changing voltage allows more current to pass through the body.

Which Current is More Dangerous, AC or DC?

There are arguments in favor of both AC current and DC current. These arguments are based on experiments and studies carried out on human beings (including men and women) and industry professionals who have experience working with both types of currents.

The argument in favour of DC current

Victims who have experienced the electric shock with DC current say that they are unable to pull their hand back because DC current flows continuously. This effect is similar to an electric doorbell supplied with DC current. Hence, it is believed that the DC current shock is more dangerous.

Whereas, in the case of AC current, the person experiencing the electric shock can pull their hand back as the current goes to zero. Hence, it is believed that the AC current shock is least dangerous than the DC current.

The argument in favour of AC current

When the person is experiencing an electric shock, the focus of that person is to get rid of it and save their life. What is happening internally to the muscles cannot be known.

According to Charles Dalziel’s experiments on men and women, muscle contraction is continuous in case of an electric shock with a DC current. Whereas in the case of AC current, a person experiencing electric shock undergoes a series of muscle contractions. A series of muscle contractions cause very severe damage to the muscles.

Due to the capacitive behavior of the skin coming in contact with the current-carrying conductor, more current can pass through the body if the voltage is rapidly changing. Studies have shown that a twofold increase in the voltage increases a sevenfold increase in the current.

DC’s “let-go” threshold is higher than the AC’s “let-go” threshold. More DC current is required to produce a similar effect as AC current.

These arguments are not only based upon experiments being carried out on men and women but also have been studied medically. Hence, the argument in favor of AC current holds the truth.

Now, it can be summarized that AC Current is more dangerous than DC Current.

Well, one should not be afraid of electricity, but one must remember that both AC current and DC current can be dangerous to the human body, and safety measures must be taken into consideration when working with any of them.

References

• W. B. Kouwenhoven and O. R. Langworthy, “Effects of Electric Shock-II”. IEEE Transaction (A.I.E.E.).
• Charles F. Dalziel, “Effects of Electric Shock on Man”.
• W. B. Kouwenhoven and D. R. Hooker, “Electric Shock Effects of Frequency”.
• John Cadick, “Electrical Safety Handbook”, 3rd edition, Mcgraw Hill.
• Raymond M. Fish and Leslie A. Geddes, “Conduction of Electrical current to and Through the Human Body”, Open Access Journal of Plastic Surgery.
• Charles F. Dalziel and Eric Odgen, “Effects of Frequency on Let-Go Currents”, IEEE Transaction.
• Mark W. Kroll and Dorin Panescu, “Physics of Electrical Injury”, Springer Science+Business Media New York, 2012.
  

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Krunal Shah is a passionate educator and career counselor with experience as an Entrepreneur. Currently, he is working as Director of Subodh Tech Private Limited, where he is involved in providing job-oriented training and Engineering Consultancy.

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