Ret. wrote:

deano wrote:
Its a metal (stainless steel) casing with a mirror door, has a canopy
over the door with 2 low voltage downlighters recessed into it. The
lights are operated via a rocker switch at the top rh side covered in
a rubber membrane. The whole thing is shiny mirror like metal finish
inside and out. I have an isolator switch mounted on the wall in the
room behind it. It's above a wash hand basin in my downstairs shower
room- where I shave.

With the door open, as I put my hand in to get my shaving foam, I get
a small electrical shock, on the back of my arm, just below my elbow,
where it touches the corner of the open door! It's a constant 'buzz' -
not painful, but uncomfortable and obviously worrying!

How can I go about finding the fault? It happens when the isolator
switch is on or off! I'm wondering if the unit is faulty or has a
fixing nicked a cable in the wall? It's been up for a couple of Years
and only when the missus mentioned getting the same shock have I
thought I'd better get it resolved

I'll leave the electricians in the group to answer your query - but on the
issue of the 'buzz'... When my wife's iPod is on charge (using a
non-Apple compatible charger), if you pick it up and run your finger
lightly over the metal surface, there is also this 'buzz' sensation. I
wouldn't describe it as an electric shock - just a very very mild
'tingling' sensation.

As the output of the charger is low, I am assuming that there is no danger
from this...


I would stop using that charger right now!

At least get it tested. There should not be enough leakage to cause any
"buzz" sensation, which is clearly mains leakage and not a static shock.

You have to ask yourself, "what if the leakage path in the device worsens,
suddenly, due to component breakdown". The fraction of a mA or so you are
feeling could suddenly become several 10's of mA which is borderline lethal
depending on circumstances, constitution.

To the OP - same applies. Isolate the lights and get it checked.

--
Tim Watts