Detecting best path?

That's your problem as I see it... you can't apply a voltage to the hand and have the current go through some other part of the body... unless he's got his other hand on a 'grounded' bible, or he is standing bare footed on a damp floor. You've got to show the entire current path, else he just has a hand spasm.

George H.

You're trying to give some one a hear attach, why?

Jamie

The high voltage part isn't the problem -- a voltage multiplier module designed for use in stun guns is readily available.

The problem is determining which of several available contact plates to make active so the current flows through the person's body rather than just one hand.

Perfectly true.

I don't think that is likely. The accused had to hold a Cross up, state their innocence, and wait while a prayer was said. Being unable to hold it up until the prayer ended indicated guilt, which meant immediate imposition of the death penalty.

I doubt most people would be so cavalier as to do it one-handed when there's so much at stake.

In any case, it's reasonable to assume the suspect would use both hands, so that is how the scene is written.

(I've never found accounts which detail such things, but I've always suspected that if the priest liked you, it was a small Cross and he raced through the prayer, but if he didn't like you, it was an

80-pounder and the words came slowly.)

Now a reborn baptism ceremony may work with some salted water, if the electron displacement from the cross does not get them, a little splash in the eyes will wake them up!..

Jamie

It's natural to use two hands to pick up something large, especially when you have to hold it up for a while.

Current goes in one hand, out the other.

What I'm trying to do is get some help with circuit design.

Bull. Connect all alternating surfaces, so no matter how they hold it they are shocked. I built things that did that back in the '60s. A foil covered box, a 'D' cell, a small hand wound iron core coil & a vibration/tilt switch. There was no way you could pick it up with bare hands and not be shocked. Your "300,000 volts" would arc over the outside of that cross, unless it is over 12 inches between the exposed contacts.

Thanks. Do you do drugs?

I had to ask after reading some of the stuff on your page.

If a person's hand touches both, the reflex is to jerk the hand away.

My stun gun is rated 300kV. It doesn't arc over.

I'm on an aspirin regimen.

Better check the contents of that bottle... I think it might be mislabeled.

Jamie

So, it defies the laws of physics?

It's often been said that writers get strange ideas, and sf writers get really strange ideas. I've always tried to live up to that. :)

It has a safety feature so it doesn't discharge unless it's pressed against something. Since a body has less resistance than air, the current chooses that path rather than arcing.

If you cared at all about knowing what you're talking about, you would have read the part of the original post where it's explained the device would only be discharged when it's in proper contact with a body.

I read it. I also understand the way HV arcs.

I've had training and practical experience in use of stun guns up to

500kV. This included watching many hours of videos on various methods of use. I've never seen an arc when both leads are in contact with a body.

The resistance of air is much higher than what's essentially a bag of salt water.