# Electric chair question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 24, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-chair-question/105414 "2002-04-24T19:07:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-chair-question/105414/1 "2002-04-24T19:07:09Z")
I just had someone ask me this and I had no idea and I really don’t know where to look to find out. How many volts (amps?) of elctricity does it take to kill some one with the electirc chair? or at least how many do they use? No, I’m not building my own. I was just asked and I thought I should know for some reason. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-chair-question/105414/2 "2002-04-24T19:45:33Z")
[This website](http://www.urbanlegends.com/death/electric.chair/electric_chair_history.html) mentions the following: > [@](#): > > Laurence reports the common technique: 2000-2200 volts at 7-12 amperes for 60-90 seconds, possibly lowered and reapplied at various intervals until death. Another method, according to an article in the 6/7/1990 Washington Times, is 700-1000 volts at 6 amperes for one minutes, then a second jolt of 2000 volts for another minute. Hope that helps. ---
**Author:** ![Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milton_De_La_Warre)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-chair-question/105414/3 "2002-04-24T20:01:14Z")
Data from electrical accidents would indicate that it frequently takes less than the “big house” administers to kill a person. Occasionally someone survives (sort of) higher voltages and possibly amperages due to unusual conditions. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-chair-question/105414/4 "2002-04-24T20:33:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JCHeckler \* > \*\*Data from electrical accidents would indicate that it frequently takes less than the “big house” administers to kill a person. Occasionally someone survives (sort of) higher voltages and possibly amperages due to unusual conditions. \*\* This is true. The OP asked how much electricity it takes to kill a person in the electric chair. It should be noted that several people have survived the electric chair…at least temporarily because they are usually re-electrocuted till they are dead. In the case of Willie Francis (also mentioned in the link I provided above) the chair was wired incorrectly. While he was electrocuted it was not sufficient to kill him. His case went to the Supreme Court where those representing Francis suggested that electrocuting him again constituted cruel and unusual punishment which is prohibited by the 8[sup]th[/sup] Amendment. The court disagreed and Francis was successfully killed in the electric chair about a year after the first attempt. The even sadder part to this is the link above suggests that Francis was almost certainly innocent of the crime for which he was being put to death (I don’t know if that is true or not). John Louis Evans was put to death by electric chair in 1983. However, it took three separate discharges for a total of 14 minutes before it was done. Some who support the use of the electric chair say it is humane as the electricity almost instantly overloads the brain thus not allowing pain to be felt. Willie Francis described the experience as unbearably painful but electric chair supporters note that he was hooked-up improperly. The truth, of course, is only truly known by dead people killed in the chair. Whatever the case the chair is certainly gruesome to behold in use. Cooking flesh, bleeding, vomiting, bowel release and a bevy of other nastiness often accompany the process. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-chair-question/105414/5 "2002-04-24T21:53:41Z")
Who was the lightly fried dude who jumped out of his own coffin and tried to run away? Or is that story just more bullshit fed to me by _Strange Stories and Amazing Facts_? ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-chair-question/105414/6 "2002-04-24T23:48:34Z")
The whole things sounds pretty cruel to me and I think a lethal injection would be much preferable. Reminds me of the story about some guy who was sentenced to death in some poor rural county in some backward southern state. They told him all they could afford was a gas chamber … as they are strapping him to the chair the condemned man start to laugh as he looks up as sees there is no ceiling or roof and he could see the sky. “What kind of gas chamber is this you idiots? How do you think you’re gonna kill me in here?” One of the men tying him down says “Just wait until the propane bottles start raining on you” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-chair-question/105414/7 "2002-04-24T23:49:43Z")
You can read Fred Leuchter’s electric chair specs [here](http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/starke/electricity.html). He says that: > [@](#): > > During electrocution there are two (2) factors that must be considered: the conscious and the autonomic nervous systems. Voltages in excess of 1500 volts ac are generally sufficient to destroy the conscious nervous system, that which controls pain and understanding. Generally, unconsciousness occurs in 4.16 milliseconds, which is 1/240 part of a second. This is twenty-four (24) times as fast as the subjects conscious nervous system can record pain. The autonomic nervous system is a little more difficult, however, and generally requires in excess of 2000 volts ac to seize the pacemaker in the subjects heart. Generally, we compute the voltage at 2000 volts ac plus 20%. After the voltage is applied and the subjects body saturates, the voltage has dropped about 10% (depending upon the resistance of the electrode contacts and that of the subject body) and this should be taken into consideration, as well. Current should be kept under six (6) amperes to minimize body damage (cooking). > > Ideally, the voltage is calculated thus: > > The average man weighing 70 kilos (154 lbs.) requires 2000 volts ac to seize the heart. > > Increase the voltage by 20% to accommodate subjects with greater resistance. > > 2000 volts ac plus 20% equals 2400 volts ac. > Increase voltage by 10% for drop at saturation. > > 2400 volts ac plus 10% equals 2640 volts ac. > > Thus, the voltage should be 2640 volts ac. > > This 2640 volts ac should be applied in two (2) jolts of one (1) minute each, spaced at a ten (10) second interval. On occasion, the subjects heart will spasm, instead of seizing, during the first application of current and the application of the second jolt will generally eliminate this problem. This spasm is due to excessive chemical build-up (acetylcholine and sympathin) at the nerve junctions and the ten (10) second wait generally allows for dissipation of the chemicals. There’s an interesting documentary out there about Leuchter called “Mr. Death”, telling about how he came to design execution equipment for various states, how he testified for a modern Nazi and became a Holocaust denier, and how it pretty much ruined his life. Interesting story; too bad the guy can’t admit to himself that he could ever be wrong about anything. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2002, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-chair-question/105414/8 "2002-04-26T13:20:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > **The whole things sounds pretty cruel to me and I think a lethal injection would be much preferable.** I’ve heard it told (but don’t know if it is true) that many people have a severe allergic reaction to the deadly chemicals used in lethal injections. Supposedly if you are unfortunate enough to be allergic (beyond being unfortunate to be on a lethal injection table in the first place) your death will be quite unpleasant.