Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Cam Nivag · Post by **Cam Nivag** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:10 pm

My shower has one of those electric heater plastic boxes on the wall. Today I accidentally touched the metal coil that goes from the heater to the wall and got quite a shock. Is that normal? Should I insist that the owner fix it or is this just a matter of "Don't touch the metal coil you dummy"?

There's an electric tea kettle too with a metal ring around the top and I've shocked my self on that to when I touched the metal ring when it was plugged in.

I'm not an electrician. How would this be fixed anyway?

timmydownawell · Post by **timmydownawell** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:11 pm

They are supposed to be grounded but they almost never are. Like 99%.

No external metal part should be live though so maybe get someone to come and check that the wire hasn't come loose and shorted with something.

To earth/ground it you need a wire that connects to a metal stake driven into the ground.

Cam Nivag · Post by **Cam Nivag** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:15 pm

timmydownawell wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:11 pm They are supposed to be grounded but they almost never are. Like 99%.

If I were to touch the metal shower coil while under a stream of water, would I die?

Shouldn't they just wrap some kind of insulation around that so no one touches the metal when showering?

timmydownawell · Post by **timmydownawell** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:15 pm

edited above

John Bingham · Post by **John Bingham** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:18 pm

It shouldn't be live and it's potentially deadly in a bathroom. I've never noticed much attention paid to grounding in older units here, recently built or larger commercial premises should have it.

YouTube · Post by **General Mackevili** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:22 pm

Haha, yes, it's "normal." It's fucking annoying. I've been zapped close to death by those things.

It's always been while I'm actually taking a shower, and haven't died yet, I don't think.

The worse was probably a decade ago in some shithole hovel on Kaoson Road in Bangkok. I was feeling that shit and shaking for a good 30 minutes afterwards.

I guess it's just not typically drying mmm strong enough to kill someone, otherwise they would kill more travelers than drugs in South East Asia.

Cam Nivag · Post by **Cam Nivag** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:30 pm

John Bingham wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:18 pm It shouldn't be live and it's potentially deadly in a bathroom. I've never noticed much attention paid to grounding in older units here, recently built or larger commercial premises should have it.

OK, so if I complain about this I'm not being a pussy? I'm more concerned about embarrassing myself than about being electrocuted, obviously.

Cam Nivag · Post by **Cam Nivag** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:33 pm

Here's the deathtrap setup. The shocking coil is the one in the middle. Why would shower wires be wrapped in a metal coil that conducts electricity? All this time I've been overly worried about the slippery floor tiles.

violet · Post by **violet** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:36 pm

I worry about both

Borum-Ex frm TOForum · Thu Feb 08, 2018 9:39 pm

I touched my knob (of my water heater) and got a shock too, about 4 months ago, i replaced the piece of shit instantly! I have not that much ambitions in life, but to be found dead electrocuted in a PP bathroom by a water heater ain't one of them, it has to be more spectacular than that! If not i stay!

Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Re: Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Re: Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Re: Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Re: Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Re: Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Re: Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Re: Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Re: Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

Re: Is it normal for electric shower heaters not to be grounded?

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