Electric Shock
- Thread starter steelheadguy
- Start date
SnapsProvolone
Well-Known Member
It is true that a GFI would help in this case. That said, myself a licensed master electrician, avoids GFCI receptacles and breakers in my grow. This is due to something called nuiscance trips. Sucks ass when a gfi, not due to a fault, trips off critical loads in your grow.
I do keep cords off floors.
Had a gfci cost me an 8lb harvest that was almost done in Missouri, tripped my dehumidifier. Didn't live at the grow house, automated so I checked twice a week since I lived an hour away. Came back and mildew had taken over.
I do keep cords off floors.
Had a gfci cost me an 8lb harvest that was almost done in Missouri, tripped my dehumidifier. Didn't live at the grow house, automated so I checked twice a week since I lived an hour away. Came back and mildew had taken over.
SnapsProvolone
Well-Known Member
It would help. A gfci doesn't even require a ground to function. If more current is flowing thru hot than neutral (10 ma diff) it trips. We install gfci's to meet code, in old houses with no ground we have to put the "GFCI Protected No Equipment Ground" sticker on receptacle.
I'm no master, but I am a resi electrician (in my spare time). I did not realize a ground was not required for a GFCI to function properly. I knew about the hot/neutral differential but not the tidbit regarding ground. Learn something new here every day.
Thanks Provolone!
-spek
SnapsProvolone
Well-Known Member
We run into this a lot. Tons of old houses. Sometimes a renter will change the two prong receptacles for three prong (not grounded). After they leave, to pass regional housing inspection we go in and swap them all back to two prong to pass. Have done one house twice in just over a year. LoL
Although I only really do renos on my own homes now (which are complete guts), but in days gone by, I've been accustomed to doing full rewiring jobs in older homes, not just small fixes. For instance, even in my own homes I buy, if it is older with any older wiring (knob/tube etc) with no ground, each room I'd do I'd run ground to it so I never ran into the case you specified.
Again, appreciate you sharing
-spek
ps. I do appreciate replacing 3-prong back to 2, because I have actually seen that nonsense. Presents a clear lie to the user of the outlet.
SnapsProvolone
Well-Known Member
If you got knob & tube, best to replace it. Whatever you do avoid blown insulation. If you insulate ever k&t wiring it can start a fire. Carter wiring required air cooling. Insulation over k&t is a code violation.
We find a lot of this, old house, newer service, but live k&t not replaced in attic with rockwool insulation blown in a long time ago.
We find a lot of this, old house, newer service, but live k&t not replaced in attic with rockwool insulation blown in a long time ago.
Yep, aware of the code violation, and of course I replace it. Just using as an example. Even an uneducated person can see (or should be able to see) the inherent dangers of k&t, simply by how deteriorated the insulation is (if there is any at all).
Even aluminum I replace. Although that's still code-legal, I've seen some blackened boxes due to expansion/contraction. I always replace everything I touch with either code-spec Cu, or oftentimes put in over-rated copper.
-spek
SnapsProvolone
Well-Known Member
Be carefull to mark overrated copper in panel so a knuckle head won't upsize the ocpd to wire gauge.
kinddiesel
Well-Known Member
CONGRADS you did not dye ! you have no ground hooked up some where . prob no ground hooked to the garage. so even if the lights are properly grounded and all the electric is correct you still get zapped. you need to call a pro to look at it the garage needs to have a breaker. and it needs to be grounded.. I have been poked by 120 and 240 I liked how it felt call me crazy. also got zapped by an electric fence nocked me down . and a few hundred times by a car spark plug. that's insane pain ! 80 thousand volts.
If OP listens to the suggestions of Provolone and does some basic multi-meter testing, he might not need a 'pro' to come on site. I didn't read the whole thread, but I will. This literally sounds like a basic problem of connecting a 120v device into a 240v circuit from what I've seen thus far (and/or a potential short where OP became ground).
Will review to tell for sure, but with a $20 multi-meter, tests can be performed after guidance by someone experienced to help find the issue.
-spek
ps but in essence, it is always advisable to have a pro come in, but BEFORE you start your operation.
YST SMOKE WEED EVERY DAY
SnapsProvolone
Well-Known Member
If you liked it then you had some insulation value between you and ground. Right hand should be only one in the panel and lefthand better never be touching a ground. Power going thru heart kills. You are lucky to be breathing.
P.S. everying you said about his issue is off base.
I also am an old-school auto mechanic, and once you get hit once with spark, you NEVER do it again. I had my knees resting on the steel bumper of a Blazer and touched the wrong spot on a broken plug wire. "A few hundred times" and that is beyond idiotic.
You liked being zapped? You really need to lay off what you're on bro.
-spek
You liked being zapped? You really need to lay off what you're on bro.
-spek
B.B.V.C.
Well-Known Member
Amps kill, not volts. But regardless an easy way to check if your garage is grounded is to throw the main switch on the sub panel open it up and check to see if the wires coming in are grounded to the panel. Maybe you'll notice that there is 1 copper wire sitting in the panel that hasnt been secured to a screw on the back of your panel. If this is the case WITH THE MAIN BREAKER SWITCH GOING TO THE PANEL unscrew one of the little grounding screws in the back of the panel put a loop in the end of the wire and ground it properly. Not saying this is the most likely cause but you might as well check the easy things you could fix yourself first
SnapsProvolone
Well-Known Member
He should invest in some PPG and use it. Just a matter of time for that nut.
Had a fella just like him working with me many years ago. Dumbass dropped a metal screwdriver in an arc hazard while we were testing switchgear at a stadium and he was instantly hit with high velocity vaporized buss bar and he is no longer with us. He was wearing all PPG but arc hazards are deadly. Some good people have been lost thst way, and I mean the best, but nobody is perfect. Thing is stupid stuff can get you killed the first time, given proper circumstances even at 120 vac.
Agreed.
I've worked in a few industries, and even basic PPG can mitigate severe disasters, but some people are just retards. I'm glad you're here on RIU helping out with electrical hazards, as that is probably the highest cause of injury in this industry.
When you're first setting up, oil and water protective safety boots/shoes can be life/death, and always and I mean always wear eye protection. I myself have had significant eye injuries because I thought it couldn't happen to me. I hate wearing gloves, but decent gloves if you're a newb around electricity are helpful, as are proper insulated tools if you're actually doing wiring.
I'm a stickler for PPG (Personal Protective Gear), as Provolone seems to be as well.
-spek
SnapsProvolone
Well-Known Member
Even the best can get bit. Engineer calculated for insurance claims that the caloric value he was exposed to was over three times the rating of his arc suit. We will never know but he likely dropped the tool because of the bulky suit.
Best laid plans and what not.
Good tip: Always inflate your electrical gloves and look for color to test for punctures.
Best laid plans and what not.
Good tip: Always inflate your electrical gloves and look for color to test for punctures.
steelheadguy
Member
I bought the receptacle tester. Im going down to the garage tomorrow afternoon and Ill let you all know what I find out. Tonight Im going to open a ballast watch a couple videos and learn more about them to make sure this thing isn't wired incorrectly.
Again, thanks for the help, much appreciated.
SnapsProvolone; My area is full of mmj electricians on craigslist. Besides that route do you have any insight on finding a trustworthy electrician to look at this? Im within legal county/city limits so Im not too worried. More worried about theft than law enforcement.
Again, thanks for the help, much appreciated.
SnapsProvolone; My area is full of mmj electricians on craigslist. Besides that route do you have any insight on finding a trustworthy electrician to look at this? Im within legal county/city limits so Im not too worried. More worried about theft than law enforcement.