On Wed, 13 Jun 2007 19:44:55 -0400, Stormin Mormon wrote:

Went back to the summer camp. Just simply can't get the shower to
shock. Yes, took off a shoe and sock, and put the wet foot on the
metal drain. Tried everything we could think of, and can't get
the shower to shock.

Turned on lights. Turn on furnace. Try a different shower.

Traced some wires. The ground is NOT tied to the neutrals. The
ground wire goes to a stake in the ground. The neutral goes back
to wherever neutrals go.

They are going to call in an electrician. In the meantime, we
unhooked the furnace in case that's the source of power. I
suspect a bad neutral. When they have a lot of lights, etc, going
in the cabins, the neutral might be higher than ground potential.
How that's getting into the shower pipes is still unclear.

I'll keep you posted.


Well I am no electrician but I know a few and am an electrical engineer.
The neutral seperation from the ground does not sound right to me. The
ground and neutral should be at the same potential except when there is
current flowing through the neutral. The fact that they are disconnected
seems wrong.

Of course I guess proper terms are in order. when you say 'ground' what
do you mean? The wire connected to the 3rd prong in outlets and whatnot?
That is the onlything I think you can call a ground. that should go back
to the panel and tie into the neutral, then from there they both should
hit a stake in the ground together. So they will always be at same
potential. IIRC.

With that current layout, if that stake in the ground becomes a better
return than the proper neutral for whatever reason, you will be
shocking people. This can change based on earth conditions and maybe even
neutral loading.

Im not electrician but it does not seem proper.