American Electrical Problem

[Santa]

I thought that some of you would find this amusing:

I'm remodelling my basement and replacing my electrical boxes and moving them out 1/2 inch for drywall.
The box that contains the main switch for the basement and the staircase gave us big shocks. I investigated and found a loose ground wire. When I reconnected the ground, the shocks stopped.
I still think that there is something wrong. I don't think there should be shocks even without a ground.
I have checked all the outlets connected to that circuit and I don't see any loose wires.
What could be wrong?

Switch box shocks badly. - Straight Dope Message Board - https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=856313

 

[elsparko]

so if live wires are "hot" then what is the terminology in yankietown for a hot water pipe? im assuming a yank sparky would bond his hot wire to the hot pipe

 

[Santa]

What amused me was all the suggestions, but no one said - call a professional.

 

[telectrix]

so if live wires are "hot" then what is the terminology in yankietown for a hot water pipe? im assuming a yank sparky would bond his hot wire to the hot pipe

but how would he get a wire nut on a pipe?

 

[elsparko]

but how would he get a wire nut on a pipe?

easy, drill a hole all the way through the pipe

 

[Wilko]

What amused me was all the suggestions, but no one said - call a professional.

After all, it is the Wild West and they are all Cowboys .

 

[freddo]

That whole thread seemed to just accept faults like that as normal and applying tape over screw terminals was a suitable solution. No mention of insulation testing the circuits. I have some American electrical books and the sections on testing is very limited, often stopping at a 'socket and see' type of check.