Disposable Cameras - A Warning!

Sualdam · #1 (**permalink**) 12-24-2003, 10:56 AM

I was just doing some tidying up when I came across a single-use disposable camera that I didn't want.

I fired off all the remaining pictures, then decided to take it apart. Just out of interest.

It has a normal alkaline battery. Fine.

And it has a normal roll of film that comes out once all the pictures are taken.

And the rest of it comes apart quite easily - you have a counter wheel, and a circuit board, and...

...loud scream... the circuit board powers the flash and holds something like the energy capacity of a small power station.

I pulled it out, it suddenly gave, and my fingers obviously touched two parts that they shouldn't have done.

My hand is still tingling now.

redcircle · #2 (**permalink**) 12-25-2003, 11:36 AM

LOL.. nothing like 300 volts goin through yer system

Leisa · #3 (**permalink**) 12-27-2003, 02:07 AM

Any chance you could set up a web cam and broadcast a demonstration of this? You know, just in case anyone is a little unclear as to the, uh, repercussions of tearing into a disposable camera? I mean, Public Service Announcements are very valuable things and you have a ready made one right there.

And what is it with men? I read this out loud to my husband and all he can think about now is finding a disposable camera to try this out on. "It can't be that bad" he said. Good grief.

Sualdam · #4 (**permalink**) 12-27-2003, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leisa

"It can't be that bad" he said. Good grief.

It is. Trust me.

The world owes its state of advancement to men doing dumb things. I mean, how dumb is it to fly a kite with wet string during a thunderstorm...?

...but someone did it. Once.

minstrel · #5 (**permalink**) 12-27-2003, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sualdam

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leisa

"It can't be that bad" he said. Good grief.

It is. Trust me.

The world owes its state of advancement to men doing dumb things. I mean, how dumb is it to fly a kite with wet string during a thunderstorm...? ...but someone did it. Once.

...and as I was just saying in another thread, that's how we got beer... ;-)

Leisa - tell your husband it's not really that North Americans are tougher than Europeans - it's just that they have higher voltage over there... yeah... that's the ticket... that'll do... ;o)

redcircle · #6 (**permalink**) 12-27-2003, 07:04 PM

Actually if you touch one hand on each side of the cap so the charge goes through one hand and out the other you can cause an irregular heartbeat (causing you to have a heartattack). Having said this I would not try it. :)

Sualdam · #7 (**permalink**) 12-27-2003, 08:30 PM

That's a good point - I was thinking something similar earlier (hence the comment about the kite).

Since the purpose of the circuit is to fire a flash bulb, it'll be carrying a higher current than, say, a toy 'shock machine' or one of those toning belt gizmos. What's that old saying? 'It's the volts that jolt but the amps that kill'.

Redcircle was right about the voltage. I think a current of up to 10A can flow through the bulb - and 0.02A is enough to kill. It is certainly enough to burn you.

I promise you that I have two small white spots on the middle finger of my right hand and it feels just like when you've touched a soldering iron briefly (we've all done that, right?)

If someone did touch the two contacts with opposite fingers it could do some serious damage as redcircle says.

I laughed at the time, but I threw the thing a mile when it did it. It felt like the strongest electric shock I've ever had - and I've touched 240V AC before when an extension cord dipped in a puddle!

christoefar · #8 (**permalink**) 01-02-2004, 09:51 AM

A few years ago a mate of mine told me about this and I Decided to try it out, I got my camera and charged the flash, stuck my finger on the circuit board, and BANG, two little red marks on the end of my finger, something I'll never do again. My mates didn't find it funny when Igot them with it. LOL

Have fun

minstrel · #9 (**permalink**) 01-02-2004, 11:21 AM

Hmmm... so let me just see if I understand this -

1. Women would never think about sticking their fingers on such a circuit board to see if it hurts.
2. Men in general would think about doing so.
3. The only men who have actually done so are Britons.

Is this correct?

christoefar · #10 (**permalink**) 01-02-2004, 03:55 PM

Yep, us brits are HARD, even if our country is not so good, you should try it anyway, and you will never do it again.

LOL, Don't blame me if it really hurts.(It Does)

Have Fun

Sualdam · #11 (**permalink**) 01-02-2004, 04:17 PM

Well, my excuse is that is was an accident.

If I'd have known it was going to happen (or realised it might) I'd have been more careful. Like Chris said, it DOES hurt - but at least we know not to do it again, eh?

Anyway, that's why all the best inventors were British - we TRY stuff.

How many poorly built steam kettles exploded before Stephenson finally got one to run on rails?

How many off-balance air fans shattered before Whittle got the jet engine right?

How many damaged earlobes were endured before Bell (a SCOT, and therefore British) got the first phone to work?

Did Logie-Baird know not to touch the HV line* in his experimental TV set before the one that worked?

* I know he didn't have a CRT like we do - it was a joke ;)

So now me and Chris are up there with the best of them. All we have to do is invent something and the excuse is complete.

mtheory · #12 (**permalink**) 01-07-2004, 06:12 PM

The culprit in your shocking experience is the combination of a tiny step-up transformer and electrolytic capacitor used to fire the flash in the camera. The shock you received was probably in the 10,000-15,000 volt range with nominal amperage.

http://mtheoryit.com