What is the path current takes in an electric shock.

[Jako13!]

Hi I am currently doing my electrical NVQ and have asked a few electricians this question and wanted to clear things up. If we touch an electrical conductor and are standing on the mass of earth will the current flow through us and back to the transformer or just dissipate into the ground. I’m confused as I’ve also been told when insulated from Earth we can still receive a shock due to the bodies capacitance.
Thank you for your help in advance.

 

[DPG]

Tha ks for the reply and the honesty. I am actually at the hospital as I write this for checks. I was never intending to touch anything but the plastic face if the wocket due to a loose panel however I agree 100% with your instructions. The doctor just told me home electrics would not be enough to sustain any lasting damage. Hopefully this is true but I know you guys are the experts in electricity. I have a RCBO however this did not trip so I will be getting a professional in to run some tests on the unit and to check the cooker mains.

What a bizarre thing for a Doctor to say!

 

[ipf]

One lad I knew of at school, an apprentice doing some work at home, was found dead upstairs by his parents, with his arm under the floorboards.

Not many doctors are interested in our game but plenty go along with shocking people to keep them alive.

Worked in quite a few doctors' houses and surgeries. All have been respectful and thankful for the work done. I'm equally respectful and thankful for the medicinal help received. Each to their own and mostly accepted.

I was called out to one doc's parents' house with a power down to reset an RCD. They couldn't reset it (Memera). Although, they were both retired GP's in their early nineties so, on that occasion, I'd no hesitation going checking and sorting it for free. Favours can be helpful.

 

[UNG]

Is this doctor short of customers / patients with advice like that or is he trying to reduce the population

 

[DPG]

One lad I knew of at school, an apprentice doing some work at home, was found dead upstairs by his parents, with his arm under the floorboards.

Not many doctors are interested in our game but plenty go along with shocking people to keep them alive.

Worked in quite a few doctors' houses and surgeries. All have been respectful and thankful for the work done. I'm equally respectful and thankful for the medicinal help received. Each to their own and mostly accepted.

I was called out to one doc's parents' house with a power down to reset an RCD. They couldn't reset it (Memera). Although, they were both retired GP's in their early nineties so, on that occasion, I'd no hesitation going checking and sorting it for free. Favours can be helpful.

I agree, each to their own speciality yes. But a doctor should be aware of what effects a shock from domestic 240V systems can have on a person's body!

 

[derek]

I can only assume the doctor was having one of those 'open mouth before engaging brain' moments that I'm sure we've all had at times.
At least I hope that was the case.

 

[Snailspark]

I think it may have been a misunderstanding - the doctor was probably referring to the burns/cooking of flesh that can take place with higher voltage/industrial locations rather than the heart stopping affect.... I’m pretty sure he would know the dangers of elastic trickery!!

 

[pc1966]

...the doctor was probably referring to the burns/cooking of flesh that can take place with higher voltage/industrial locations...

That is one way to look at it, domestic voltage contact is potentially survivable where as HV contact is pretty much a guarenteed one-way trip to meet your maker!

 

[ipf]

I agree, each to their own speciality yes. But a doctor should be aware of what effects a shock from domestic 240V systems can have on a person's body!

Even more so than us, I would say.

 

[static zap]

I'm going with "para-phrase" from doc , if your arm's not aching ,no bruises from impacts & quick lookover.
It was more mild shock to finger , than near death experience.
( Hence no trip )
--Hopefully lesson learned--
[automerge]1589289129[/automerge]

home electrics are OFTEN FATAL,

Plenty think an RCD will save you from all situations ,
as we all know ,not true with covers off .
If electrical current sees you as a load rather than path to earth.

 

[James]

Is this doctor short of customers / patients with advice like that or is he trying to reduce the population

his brother might be the local undertaker?

edit,
was a joke possibly in poor taste. please don't mark it funny, how about optimistic if you like it?
rainbows are nice for the NHS at the moment anyway.

 

[Ed Evans]

Hi I am currently doing my electrical NVQ and have asked a few electricians this question and wanted to clear things up. If we touch an electrical conductor and are standing on the mass of earth will the current flow through us and back to the transformer or just dissipate into the ground. I’m confused as I’ve also been told when insulated from Earth we can still receive a shock due to the bodies capacitance.
Thank you for your help in advance.

If you are separated from earth you will not get a shock. That is how an isolation transformer works. (shaver socket) the shock path is back to the transformer.

 

[static zap]

If you are separated from earth you will not get a shock.

Always did like clip in one of "Final destinations"-Films, of water sneaking along floor tile cracks ...
--Luck can conspire against you--

(more earthing may be available with certain -Floor heating solutions)