# electrocuted by peeing on an electric fence **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 9, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478 "2017-06-09T03:45:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/21 "2017-06-09T14:23:54Z")
Well then, dielectric breakdown of air is back on the table. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/22 "2017-06-09T14:27:19Z")
My fence charger (a “weed cutter” type) would create half-inch-long sparks. I wasn’t dumb enough to try peeing on it, but I did get shocked when I was working on it one time, and that’s a mistake I never made again. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/23 "2017-06-09T14:29:01Z")
I can’t believe that there are actually sober people who’d seriously consider pissing on an electric fence. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/24 "2017-06-09T14:39:22Z")
> [@Ignotus](#): > > Those are the voltages _feeding_ the charger. The output would be in the kV range. Fair point. > [@asahi](#): > > I can’t believe that there are actually sober people who’d seriously consider pissing on an electric fence. The movie _Jackass_ was a runaway success. How are you surprised? ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/25 "2017-06-09T14:50:05Z")
I’ve peed on an electric fence twice, both times over 50 years ago – once unwittingly when I was six or seven and once with a bunch of 12 and 13 year old boys who dared each other. It was a nasty shock and I won’t do it again. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/26 "2017-06-09T14:50:16Z")
I’m not sure if this type of post is allowed in the general questions, so I hope this isn’t frowned upon. Just the post title makes me think of of my favorite Ren & Stimpy scenes: So, according to R&S, it appears whizzing on an electric fence can result in electrocution. :D ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/27 "2017-06-09T14:53:38Z")
> [@Tranquilis](#): > > Fair point. > The movie _Jackass_ was a runaway success. How are you surprised? Well…you have a point. I suppose this adds an entirely new dimension to the expression “Shock the monkey.” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/28 "2017-06-09T15:02:33Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > While I admit that I haven’t studied the hydrodynamics of peeing closely, this strobe demonstration illustrates how rapidly the liquid stream breaks up: > > I also know about this from work with flowing dye lasers -- you have to use the shaped stream awfully close to the outlet if you want to get the shaped flow, and not droplets. > > I suppose it’s possible to have a connected stream long enough to give an unbroken conduit all the way to an electrified surface (the examples quoted in various sources cited here suggest it), but it seems unlikely. > In any event, if you’re determined to pee on the third rail, prudence would suggest moving your instrument rapidly from side to side to break up the flow. In Doc Edgerton’s strobe experiments, he purposely used a pump that sent out droplets 60 times per second, so it appeared to be a steady stream. Watch the second video [here](http://edgerton-digital-collections.org/techniques/stroboscope), where he explains it. While a continuous stream would break up as it falls further, it would be a lot more chaotic & not give such pretty strobe pictures. I doubt the human bladder is actually producing droplets at a periodic rate of 60 Hz. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/29 "2017-06-09T15:21:49Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > In Doc Edgerton’s strobe experiments, he purposely used a pump that sent out droplets 60 times per second, so it appeared to be a steady stream. Watch the second video [here](http://edgerton-digital-collections.org/techniques/stroboscope), where he explains it. While a continuous stream would break up as it falls further, it would be a lot more chaotic & not give such pretty strobe pictures. I doubt the human bladder is actually producing droplets at a periodic rate of 60 Hz. It may have a pump that sends it out, but that stream is coming from a single nozzle in an unbroken stream (look at the start of the stream – it hasn’t yet broken into individual drops) That pump isn’t sending out individual “pellets” of water, one after the other, but a stream that breaks up into the droplets. The pump may have a velocity profile that favors the breakup into uniform drops shortly after they leave, but they’re leaving in a group. As I say, I saw breakup in laser dye flows, too, and they’re not driven by a pump that enhances breakup. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/30 "2017-06-09T15:24:33Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > I can’t believe that there are actually sober people who’d seriously consider pissing on an electric fence. > [@Tranquilis](#): > > Fair point. > > The movie _Jackass_ was a runaway success. How are you surprised? You’ve never doubted the sobriety of the _Jackass_ crew? ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/31 "2017-06-09T15:29:34Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > You’ve never doubted the sobriety of the _Jackass_ crew? Them? Drunk as bishops, I’ve no doubt. But people _paid money_ to sit, (mostly) sober, in the seats and watch it. LOTS of them. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/32 "2017-06-09T15:33:50Z")
If you want to study urination, you do not use models employing pumps and valves and saline fluids. You use the science of [Urodynamics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urodynamic_testing). Real urine, real bladders and urethras. Plus math! [the shape of the urine stream](http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0047133) Hey hey, go with the flow. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/33 "2017-06-09T15:34:19Z")
Livestock gear is fun. I used to love to trick kids visiting from the city to go get something on the other side of that (electric) fence. I have touched one plenty of times myself. It is certainly unpleasant but it isn’t going to truly hurt you. We used to use electric cattle prods like fencing swords too and have matches with them. They won’t kill you either but you don’t want to be on the losing side of that contest. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/34 "2017-06-09T16:16:18Z")
[quote=“wguy123, post:26, topic:788478”] Just the post title makes me think of of my favorite Ren & Stimpy scenes: [/QUOTE] I was just coming back to post that. 😃 [Here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOYnx3fy3hw) is a shorter version, with just the relevant part. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/35 "2017-06-09T17:31:35Z")
When I was young and had no sense, I took a whiz on an electric fence. It hurt so bad, it shocked my balls, I took a crap in my overalls. - Beavis ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/36 "2017-06-09T17:46:07Z")
> [@skdo23](#): > > When I was young and had no sense, I took a whiz on an electric fence. It hurt so bad, it shocked my balls, I took a crap in my overalls. - Beavis When I was young and in my prime, I used to jack off all the time. Now I’m old and have more sense, I use a knothole in the fence. ---
**Author:** ![davida03801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5e925/32.png) [@davida03801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davida03801)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/37 "2017-06-09T19:15:48Z")
Back in the day when I was in high school there was a kid in my general area who peed on a downed electrical wire and it fucked him up pretty bad. Big lawsuit and it was in the news daily for several weeks. I can remember reading in the newspaper (back in the day they the major source of news) of the medical effects on him and thinking to myself better off dead. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/38 "2017-06-09T21:55:35Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > My golf partner once peed on an electric fence, and he most certainly was shocked. > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Like hell it can’t! > I can speak from personal experience on that. More than 50 years ago, and I still remember it. Well, I shall have to defer to those with firsthand experience, then. 😃 This now makes me wonder another question: Assuming an unbroken stream of urine, can the electricity - in theory - travel all the way up your urethra, into your bladder? In fact, if the bladder hypothetically were completely full and being fed urine by the ureters, might the electric jolt go all the way into your kidneys? How far does liquid stop conducting electricity? ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/39 "2017-06-09T22:06:12Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > In fact, if the bladder hypothetically were completely full and being fed urine by the ureters, might the electric jolt go all the way into your kidneys? How far does liquid stop conducting electricity? Electricity follows the least-resistance path to ground. I think it unlikely that the kidneys are on that path. Most likely path is genetalia to leg to ground. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478/40 "2017-06-09T22:15:12Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This now makes me wonder another question: Assuming an unbroken stream of urine, can the electricity - in theory - travel all the way up your urethra, into your bladder? > > In fact, if the bladder hypothetically were completely full and being fed urine by the ureters, might the electric jolt go all the way into your kidneys? How far does liquid stop conducting electricity? One of the effects of electrical shock is muscle clenching. I’m guessing that this would cause the urinary sphincter muscles to clench closed, thus cutting off the flow of urine, and that low-resistance path for the electricity? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electrocuted-by-peeing-on-an-electric-fence/788478.md?page=3)