Clive Mitchell wrote:

Oh dear. Before we start the macho bragging about how we can "take"
240V,

Certainly not a case of 'macho bragging'; I would *strongly* advise
against connecting oneself to any mains Voltage. A previous post
implied that mains Voltage *will* kill; this is not the case, most
people will survive it, whether it be 120V or 240V. However, both
Voltages can, and sadly sometimes do, put enough current through the
body to result in death. The risk of death is small, but not
negligable, and not one which it is wise to take.

The time I got 415 was partly due to faulty equipment, metalwork which
should have been Earthed wasn't, and had actually become connected to
one phase, and partly due to my carelessness in touching something that
was, quite correctly, connected to another phase. It's a long time ago
now, but I don't remember feeling any effect when touching the first
phase. This was, to say the least, not a pleasant experience, and not
one which I would wish to repeat. Saying that something will not
necessarily result in death is not the same as recommending it, or
saying that it has carries no risk.

Any common mains Voltage certainly can be fatal, it is sensible to use
good quality fittings, e.g. ones which do not fall apart when touched,
and to take care, which I was not doing, particularly as a child, under
5, when I had a habit of exploring the insides of things like table
lamps and mains radio sets; we had an old radio with the screws
securing the fibre back missing, and the valves inside it used to
fascinate me. Unfortunately, the exposed incomming mains connections
were very easy to touch. My first experience should have put me off
doing so, but it didn't, it took several more for me to learn the
lesson. At that age I knew that it was unpleasant, but I didn't
understand the risk.