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My colleague and I were discussing today whether an electric shock from a disconnected neutral under load or a shock directly from the corresponding line would be worse? He raised the point that the current from the load in circuit would make the disconnected neutral shock worse but I wasn't convinced.

Any thoughts?
 
My colleague and I were discussing today whether an electric shock from a disconnected neutral under load or a shock directly from the corresponding line would be worse? He raised the point that the current from the load in circuit would make the disconnected neutral shock worse but I wasn't convinced.

Any thoughts?
I used to think that shocks from circuits with high loads would be worse than shocks from circuits with low loads.
In reality, it’s all down to your resistance.
The higher your resistance, the lower the amperage of the shock.
 
There are lots of variables here; no two shocks are alike as they depend critically on the contact resistance between the skin and the conductors which depends on the pressure, area, moisture level etc. But all other things being equal, a shock from a disconnected neutral to earth will be equal or less severe than from line to earth.

The source of the shock current is the line in either case. A shock directly from the line does not have the resistance of the load in series and is likely to be the most severe. A shock from the disconnected neutral must first flow through the resistance of the load, which may reduce the current somewhat. Whether it makes much difference depends on its resistance relative to that of the shock path through your body.

If the load is a 3kW 230V heating element, its resistance will be 18Ω, much less than a typical body resistance, so it will have negligible effect and the shock will be practically as severe as from the line. If the load is a 2W relay coil, its impedance will be 26kΩ, which will limit the current to below 8.7mA, possibly giving a much less severe shock than from the line directly.
 

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