Shocked/buzzed by shower faucet

[Rainer]

Dear All,

Sorry in advance if I am posting in a wrong section but I would appreciate your help:

A few days ago while having a shower I got buzzed when I touched the shower's faucet. First I though it was my imagination then I touched it again and felt it again. Although only on my finger where there is a bruise.

I took out my meter and checked AC between the faucet and the drain and it showed 12V. Then I checked between the faucet and an outlet's ground and showed nothing.

Could you help me out here, do I have to worry and call an electrician?

 

[Octopus]

Get your self a decent spark

 

[Rainer]

Voltage doesn't exist in one place. Voltage is a potential between 2 points.
When you put your voltmeter between you and the showerhead to get a reading a circuit must exist. So you must be contact with something that has a relationship with the showerhead in terms of a conductive path.
Not to be tested but touching mains voltage has no effect if there is no route to earth or neutral.
By the same principle its possible to work on high voltage lines as long the workers are at that voltage and don't touch earth.
Thats why birds can perch on high voltage lines.

Thanks, sorry for my ignorance, so do you have any suggestions?

 

[dmxtothemax]

Thanks, sorry for my ignorance, so do you have any suggestions?

The fault does not exist with the shower head, the fault exists with those three appliances, they are leaking current into the earthing system, the working earthing system then takes it to your shower head and anything else that is earthed. Find out why these three appliances are leaking. Replace them if need be.

 

[westward10]

Agree with #16 you need a decent electrician, to say you are okay because your fuse box has a safety switch is the comment of a person who does not know how to resolve the issue. It sounds to me that you have an earthing issue.

 

[Wilko]

Agree with Westie, you need this fixed. You can't be using this in case it suddenly gets worse, which is a possibility. Can you describe your hot water service, was it running and what else was turned on that gave the '12V' and where was this measured?

 

[Pat H]

A lot of modern kit like PCs have mains filters that filter to earth so some leakage is expected. It could also be an induced current caused by cables running in parallel or close to unearthed pipework. That could also explain why you see a voltage with respect to earth at the showerhead.

 

[DPG]

A lot of modern kit like PCs have mains filters that filter to earth so some leakage is expected. It could also be an induced current caused by cables running in parallel or close to unearthed pipework. That could also explain why you see a voltage with respect to earth at the showerhead.

Can't see an induced voltage from a parallel cable providing enough current to give a shock like that.

 

[Des 56]

Why do people use voltage tests to determine continuity of bonding and to determine what bonding may be necessary or required
Get someone there with a continuity/insulation resistance tester and sort it out for goodness sake
In the meanwhile,why continue using an appliance that is suspected of being unsafe

As for putting fingers on a part to confirm there is potential,that is where those with a voltmeter obsession can come in handy,keep your fingers for essential tasks related to nasal duties and leave the voltages for machines to deal with

 

[DPG]

Des 56 has nailed it I think. Not worth risking your life for.

Daz (not 56)

 

[Des 56]

Des 56 has nailed it I think. Not worth risking your life for.

Daz (not 56)

Me neither,way past that figure

 

[Dave OCD]

Me neither,way past that figure

But you can't be anywhere near as old as Tel and Pete surely ?!

 

[Octopus]

We switched everything off on the fuse box, and switched them on individually and found the 12V added up by switching back on 3 different switches

Whats this "we" - what proper tests did the spark actually do ... I refer you back to my first post on the subject.

 

[westward10]

Whats this "we" - what proper tests did the spark actually do ... I refer you back to my first post on the subject.

I think using the word "spark" maybe optimistic.

 

[Des 56]

But you can't be anywhere near as old as Tel and Pete surely ?!

Certainly not
I'm old but they are really old

Tel used to deprive cars of wheels years before the combustion engines were invented