Hello Todd,

From the way you've posed the question, I can't tell whether you
understand the basic electrical concepts involved.

Let me just say that appliance ground faults are so common that a good
part of the National Electrical Code (NEC) is devoted to protecting
people from them. Breaking the ground connection exposes one to the very
dangers that the ground connection was installed to protect against.

Taking a shower is just not equivalent to removing the protection
against appliance ground faults that the NEC requires.

There is no electrical safety risk in taking a shower UNLESS there has
been a grossly egregious wiring situation that would at a minimum
violate the NEC and could be grounds for criminal negligence. I would
not (and have not) advise everyone to call in an electrician before
taking a shower. But I will advise everyone who wants to break his
ground connection to be careful.

I agree with the notion that no part of our existence is without some
risk. Rationality therefore means we expend efforts to avoid a risk
commensurate with the risk's probability. I think advising the OP to be
damned careful when removing the protection required by the NEC because
without that protection you might die goes well beyond the simple truism
that nothing is without risk.

Does that clarify my statement?

Chuck


todd wrote:
"chuck" wrote in message
link.net...

There are two issues:

Is it possible that lethal voltages might be found between the copper pipe
and the grounding wire (when disconnected from the pipe, of course)?
Absolutely! It is not likely, but it can and has happened.

Second issue is what to do about it? You can carefully measure the voltage
when the wire is disconnected, but you need the right kind of meter for
that. Best, and easiest, approach is to clip a jumper between the
grounding wire and the copper pipe before removing the clamp, etc. When
you're finished, remove the jumper.

Needless to say, potentially lethal voltages are a sign of a problem that
ought to be diagnosed and corrected. They are not a normal condition. This
is very definitely not in the same class as taking a shower!

Good luck.

Chuck


I don't understand your last sentence. I'm saying that if you're gravely
concerned about having a "potentially lethal" voltage connected to your
plumbing pipe, then I'd avoid touching any of the plumbing in the house and
I certainly wouldn't get soaking wet and stand in a shower lest the voltage
decide I'm a better path to ground. Is there a non-zero risk of dying from
doing this? Yes, there is. So while we're at it, why don't we have the OP
wear linesman's gloves and use a hot stick to install the clamp?

todd