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The difference between '''high voltage''' and '''low [[voltage]]''' depends on the situation and on the field of science or industry involved. Laypeople generally consider mains to be high voltage largely because it is the highest voltage they normally encounter. The UK's [[Institution of Electrical Engineers]] defines high voltage as more than 1kV, low voltage as above 50V but below 1kV and extra low voltage (ELV) as below 50V. These definitions will be used in the rest of this article except where otherwise stated.
Whilst mains voltages are capable of delivering small sparks and fatal shocks, they cannot jump significant distances, so they are dangerous only if touched. Even then, a danger only exists if the victim is grounded; professionals will occasionally allow themselves to "float with" a device, but this absolutely requires taking special precautions outside the scope of the layperson.
==Safety and insurance industry==
Various [[safety]] and [[insurance]] organizations consider anything outside of the ELV range to be dangerous and in need of regulation. Voltages above this range are sometimes capable of producing heart [[fibrillation]] if they produce [[electric current]]s in body tissues which happen to pass through the [[chest]] area. The [[electrocution]] danger is mostly determined by the low [[conductivity]] of dry human skin, and if skin is wet (especially with [[electrolyte]]s, including sea water) or if there are wounds, or if the voltage is applied to [[electrode]]s which penetrate through the skin, then even voltages far below 40V can be lethally high. On the other hand, voltages above approximately 500V have a naturally [[defibrillator|defibrillating]] effect, so sometimes a higher voltage can be safer than a lower voltage. A [[direct current|DC]] circuit may be especially dangerous because it will cause muscles to lock around the wire.
==Sparks in air==
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