Can high voltage Vdc shock when touching one terminal?

[i200yrs]

Hello...I am about to make a dummy load with >1KV Vdc. So for Vdc, touching one terminal (either + or -) can shock you or not? Sorry about this newbie question.

 

[dick_freebird]

Yes it can, because your body presents a discharged
capacitance and "closing the gap" is the same as
imposing a voltage, in effect.

It may not persist, but you may wake up horizontal.

And there's the question of just how "isolated" the
environment-as-a-whole leaves you. Everything
has a breakdown potential, everything has a leakage
across it, it's a question of quantity and the current
loop (transient or steady state).

 

[Easy peasy]

if you are well insulated you will get a small static shock as you charge - if you are not insulated from a return path - and more than 50mA is available - your heart will be affected - possibly lethally.