20040226

Grounding! Click to see why.


Click the drawing to see the the electrocution hazard. If the toaster is grounded the circuit breaker would trip. If there is only a two prong outlet on the appliance then the GFI protection required by code would protect the user.


I get shocked when touching two things at once but not either alone; which one is bad?

==> I'll be right over!
Without a tester, the only way to tell would be to touch a third or fourth thing from each, at some risk to your health.

We get shocked off faucets or pipes sometimes; what can we do? High voltage wires overhead can induce voltage in pipes/wires below, but that is usually out on the ranch, the stories abound. Otherwise, the particular circuit responsible can be identified and the stray wire located. Plus the grounding of that system should be checked and ensured.