Re:‘That Girl Is Going to Get Herself Killed’
by newaccount74 on Monday January 09, 2023 @07:11PM
(#34318450)
This sounds like the counter was picking up static electricity from somewhere. Touching it will shock you momentarily, but it's not dangerous.
Re:‘That Girl Is Going to Get Herself Killed’
by kadoban on Monday January 09, 2023 @10:18PM
(#34320080)
Doesn't sound very likely. Static can come back, but it's not usually going to be constant enough to experiment with unless you're doing something to make it come back or there's a generator for it.
Usually it's good for one little light zap and then nothing for minutes/hours.
Re:‘That Girl Is Going to Get Herself Killed’
by dguest on Tuesday January 10, 2023 @01:51AM
(#34321401)
No it wasn't static, it felt like the 60 Hz buzz that you only get from touching something connected to the electric grid.
Re:‘That Girl Is Going to Get Herself Killed’
by quickthrowman on Monday January 09, 2023 @08:39PM
(#34319197)
An ungrounded/unbonded metal counter will have static electricity buildup, and the metal fryer enclosure is bonded to ground. The static electricity wants to go towards the ground, so it uses your body as a conductor.
The shock from the fryer was stronger because it was bonded to ground by an equipment grounding conductor that is connected to grounding conductor of the electrical circuit, while the railing was (likely) bolted to the floor, resulting in a less optimal path to ground as it didn’t have a path back to the ground rods/grounding loop of the building’s electrical distribution system.
There was also a stainless fryer on the counter, but insulated with plastic legs, so I did some experimenting by completing the circuit a few ways:
- Counter to rail: weak shock
- Counter to fryer: stronger shock
- Fryer to rail: nothing
I reasoned that the rail and fryer were both grounded, the fryer more so because the metal exterior was wired directly to the ground pin in a 3-prong electrical plug. The problem was the counter.
I was pretty stoked: as a lowly ski lodge porter / custodian I'd diagnosed an electrical fault in the cafeteria! Everyone working there was way above my pay grade, but I got the manager's attention and excitedly explained my three experiments. The manager looked annoyed, confirmed that touching the counter and fryer gave a shock, and then unplugged the fryer (thus removing the ground) and went on with the day. As far as I know the counter remained electrified for the rest of the season, or longer.
I'm amazed more people don't get electrocuted.