... Do have proper respect for
large DC voltages with chunky amounts of current behind them, they'll
stop your heart in a heartbeat - so to speak.................

Yep. Remember thirty years ago building a Mullard 5/10 (was it?) and
picking it up with both hands and taking 250 volts (was it?) off the rail.
Aaaaarrrrkkkkkkk ... I can remember it now!
That - said my engineer friends - was the real reason they always kept
one hand in their trouser pockets ...
Cheers,