shocks when grounded

Was trying to fix the toilet and when put fingers in water, received a steady jolt of electricity. Has never ever happened before. After putting on shoes, no shock. Would this suggest a problem with the pacemaker that needs attention? Clearly grounded out.

8 Comments

shocks

by thomast - 2009-11-15 02:11:56

NO, this implies an electrical problem in your house. If it was your pace Maker it would not matter if you had shoes or not. It may be a wire shorted to the pipes going to your toilet (are they copper?) If they are copper and the electrical ststem is grounded to them and to a ground rod outside, the outside ground may be loose or possible the ground around it is very dry. There are a lot of possibilites, but I don"t think it is your PM.

Thomas

Hi

by Gellia2 - 2009-11-15 03:11:32

I get a shock when I put my hands under running water in my bathroom, in the winter. I discussed it with a Master Plumber and an electrician (cause it scared the ..... out of me!!) They both told me it's a combination of static electricity from walking across the rug in the room, the dry air and metal pipes. The only way to fix it was to change the pipes to PVC.

If this what it is for you, it can't hurt you any worse than a regular static shock. A regular static shock cannot harm a properly functioning pacemaker.


Ask a plumber to be sure that is what it is in your house, though.
Just an idea.

Best to you,
Gellia

Thomast is right

by pete - 2009-11-15 03:11:32

Not pm, electrical fault in your house. Get it checked. Thomast is right. Cheers Peter

Follow-up

by terata1 - 2009-11-15 04:11:29

While the suggestions of an electrical problem (poor house wiring ground) might be the reason, there is no carpet and no static charge issue as the shock lasted as long as my hands were in the water. Further, this never happened prior to getting the pacemaker. Therefore, seems to be associated with the pacemaker? However will check out the house ground too. Thanks for the help.

Shocks

by J.B. - 2009-11-15 06:11:56

I recommend that you keep your hands out of the water and call an electrician. There is an electrical problem in your house.

Do you by any chance have a disposal? As you know it is powered by electricity and is connected to the sink.

Shocking Toilet

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-15 09:11:13

This is the kind of electrical grounding problem that caused the electrocution of the soldiers in Iraq.

Without shoes you were standing on a concrete or tile covered floor which grounds your feet. Then you touch the water which must have a leakage path to a live electric circuit. Was it the water in the tank or in the bowl that gave the tingle?

Normally the water pipe and sewer pipe should be a good ground and this couldn't happen. However, if the water pipe has any plastic sections in it that breaks the circuit. In this case if some other appliance uses the ungrounded pipe as a ground it can feed electricity back into the pipe to the toilet. This is a dangerous situation because the amount of leakage current can vary. A tingle today could be disastrous next week. There is also the possibility of the same ungrounded pipe feeding a sink or shower. This is what killed the GI's in Iraq.

frank

House problem

by ShadowWeaver - 2009-11-16 02:11:54

There is not doubt that the problem is in the house electrical system. Essentially, your pacemaker wouldn't "shock" you or give you a tingling sensation if it were having problems, it would probably either just stop working or would work at a minimum setting, neither of which would cause you to feel an electrical shock. Aside from it stopping when you put on your shoes, you can also test by putting your hand in a glass of water, if the feeling isn't there, then it isn't the pacemaker. There is zero doubt in my mind that this would be the result of a grounding problem in the house. You really need to get an electrician out there so that they can get the issue resolved before it starts a house fire or electrocutes someone.

Michael

Cabg Patch is right

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-17 10:11:28

You could fry your Jewels.

Seriously, this is particularly hazardous to someone with a pacemaker. The current path of the shock you are feeling is through your arm into your chest (where the pacemaker is located) and out your lower body to your feet. What makes it more risky with a pacemaker is that the metal body of the pacemaker is connected via the lead wires to the inside of your heart. This provides a very efficient path for a lethal current direct to your heart. Apparently the problem right now is a small leakage current, but it is only a matter of time until the source gets wet or some other failure and it becomes much greater.

I'm an electronic engineer and I wouldn't go near something like that. It could ruin my whole day.

frank

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