>> >>http://www.dovesystems.com).  Microchip has an application note where
>> >>they do this to detect zero cross by running a resistor directly to the
>> >>120 VAC line.
>>
>>
>> Man I hope no humans can come into contact with that!
>
>The Zero (of the pic) has to be connected also.  taking 2 resistors of 10K
>will give a current of 6 mili-ampere.  That is well below the human
>death-treshold of 30 mili's.  So it _should_ be ok to tuch anything on this
>(the pic's) side of the construction.
>
>But _I_ would not bet my life on it either !
>
>Greetz,
>  Rudy Wieser


Exactly.  The failure of a  $0.001 component is not something I would bet my
life on.
Even without a component failure, this circuit sounds like one colossal
safety hazard.