Battery-powered electric drill onboard

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Mctavish

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I considered which is worse a slow mauling (or being ignored!) on the forum or sudden death by electrocution, and I think I prefer the former, so this is my question...
If I use a battery-powered drill on the boat while it is on a mooring am I likely to die in an elaborate electricity-related manner that I might not foresee. I will be drilling at deck level or above only on a dry day, only on millpond-like conditions and not standing or drilling into pools of water. I assume this is possible but also that it might be dangerous.
I assume that that a battery-powered drill runs on about 15V. Can that be painful/dangerous on board?
Thanks.
 
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I don't think a battery powered drill has either the voltage or power to kill you. I think mine runs on 27volts with a total power output of 4amps which is not going to kill unless I am mistaken.
 
Mctavish said:
I considered which is worse a slow mauling (or being ignored!) on the forum or sudden death by electrocution, and I think I prefer the former, so this is my question...
If I use a battery-powered drill on the boat while it is on a mooring am I likely to die in an elaborate electricity-related manner that I might not foresee. I will be drilling at deck level or above only on a dry day, only on millpond-like conditions and not standing or drilling into pools of water. I assume this is possible but also that it might be dangerous.
Thanks.
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Yes, most certainly, but it will have nothing to do with the drill... guaranteed. See, that the thing with unforeseen things, they just dont happen where you are foreseeing. And asking about the pros and cons of using battery drills is definitely foreseeing.
So, just by the simple act of foreseeing you have averted any unforeseen dangers.
So, to sum up:
You will be exteemely unlikely to suffer any electrical related mishap even if you were to use a battery drill IN sea water, they just dont have the oomph (in the right place).

Unless of course you drill though a mains cable....
 
Currents of 100 to 200mA could kill but the typical resistance of wet skinned person is still arpund 1000ohms. So current from 27v battery not going to get much beyond 27mA. You should be fine :)
 
duncan99210 said:
Sound s as if you're talking from experience. Do tell more.....
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I did once drill through a mains cable I had installed myself....
It went bang (a bit) and blew up the drill bit, but nobody died so thats OK.

I delegated drilling into myself to Poole Hospital, who installed a 12mm stainless rod through me knee and into my (then broken) lower leg some years ago......
 
solent clown said:
I used an 18v battery drill underwater to fit a patch to a hull. It didnt kill me, but it did kill the drill despite rinsing it afterwards.
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I'm struggling to think of circumstances in which would I would even consider that. Does a battery drill actually work under water?
If it did, respect for unconventional thinking.:encouragement:
 
If you use a 12V drill you can equip a defective battery pack with a couple of long leads to run off the boat battery.
 
Dan Tribe said:
I'm struggling to think of circumstances in which would I would even consider that. Does a battery drill actually work under water?
If it did, respect for unconventional thinking.:encouragement:
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It does if you buy a Nemo - https://nemopowertools.com/

Saw a demo in a chandlers a couple of years ago where a standard cheap mains drill had been sprayed with some fluid and was happily running under water. Can't remember the product used and the drill was held by its mains lead, he didn't stick his hand in the bucket - I wonder why?:)
 
Dan Tribe said:
I'm struggling to think of circumstances in which would I would even consider that. Does a battery drill actually work under water?
If it did, respect for unconventional thinking.:encouragement:
Click to expand...

Well, the whole boat was underwater, I am not great at holding my breath for long periods, a fairly poor swimmer, so battery drill saved the day.
 
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