In article et, Dave
Liquorice scribeth thus
On Sun, 7 Jun 2009 09:46:46 +0100, PeterC wrote:

I wondere if the line was DC, but when he stood up he was close to the
line and then he had to touch it so...

Others have mentioned DC or AC at 25kV. How far will 25Kv jump in dry air?
Note jump not sustain an arc once it has started.


Theres 25 kV DC in your TV on the final anode of the CRT.

We used to pull arcs from those, around half an inch or less IIRC thats
to get it going but longer to break it..;!...

The sound is of two bangs. Other arcs that I've seen on youtube etc on AC
systems have a definate buzz sound. Of course the explosive vaporisation
of body fluids will make quite a bang and could mask any AC buzz.


Nope that was AC alright. For that sort of flashover that wouldn't have
been DC which are normally no more that 1500 volts on railways sometimes
up to 3000.

And you wouldn't normally use that high a voltage for rail traction
nowadays DC wise as its rather more awkward to control unlike AC which
of course can be transformed down....
--
Tony Sayer