electric shock through plastic switch

[Thomas123]

I attended a call out the other day to check the electric after a water leak. I checked it, went to turn lights on and had tingle through the an all plastic switch. i scratched my head in disbelief and touched it again, i had another tingle. My guess is that the rocker has worn down so much that the plastic is wafer thin between the live part and my finger? it looked in pretty good condition mind, no obvious signs of wear.

I said to the tenant have you noticed this before? they said yes my boyfriend has had a few shocks off it. they never thought to report it?? too busy watching jeremy kyle with their flagon of white lightening.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Static

 

[Jimmy Boy]

We get this a lot at work nurses slopping around in crocs getting all charged up with static well some of them are belters tho

 

[Thomas123]

na it wasnt static, it was more like holding onto the end of an IR tester lol.

it was a constant shock, definetly not static discharge. only if you touch at the bottom of the rocker.

 

[Mr.Ian]

No signs of arcing along the edges of the switch? could be a cheap switch with badly shrouded contacts that's tracked on the plastic

 

[Guitarist]

Did you change the switch and see if it cured it?

 

[Thomas123]

No signs of arcing along the edges of the switch? could be a cheap switch with badly shrouded contacts that's tracked on the plastic

more than likely something like that, i normally dont even touch the switches in the houses as some tenants have been known to snap used needles off in the bottom of them, then when you push the bottom of the switch in the needle sticks in your finger.

 

[Moses]

na it wasnt static, it was more like holding onto the end of an IR tester lol.

it was a constant shock, definetly not static discharge. only if you touch at the bottom of the rocker.

Water ingress in the switch.

 

[Thomas123]

Did you change the switch and see if it cured it?

yeah i changed it. all cured.

 

[Thomas123]

Water ingress in the switch.

no water ingress at all, the water leak was over other side of room.

 

[Guitarist]

Had a shower fault a few years ago which was tripping RCD. Turned out to be tracking across the plastic backbox between line and earth post caused by moisture which had dried and left a greasy film on the plastic.
Glad it's sorted. I'm assuming there was no RCD?

 

[Tris Zanker]

more than likely something like that, i normally dont even touch the switches in the houses as some tenants have been known to snap used needles off in the bottom of them, then when you push the bottom of the switch in the needle sticks in your finger.

has anyone ever seen that done to a light switch i once had it done to the lift buttons in a block of flats ??

 

[Jimmy Boy]

I am lucky not to have to visit such **** holes..but yea I heard most trades turn off switches with a screw driver

 

[Thomas123]

has anyone ever seen that done to a light switch i once had it done to the lift buttons in a block of flats ??

its worrying to think someone is that messed up that they would do that. i've never actually seen it been done (i hope haha) just i've been warned.

 

[Tris Zanker]

we once did a job in some flats removing light switchs and putting in timers becasue they kept putting snaped off needles in to the light switchs. these people make me sick, the stay at home and watch jeremy kyle gang are just as bad.

 

[Guitarist]

we once did a job in some flats removing light switchs and putting in timers becasue they kept putting snaped off needles in to the light switchs. these people make me sick, the stay at home and watch jeremy kyle gang are just as bad.

At least you can get a warm glow knowing that your taxes are keeping them in cider and smokes

 

[Marvo]

I'm confused, why would people put needles into light switches? Is this some kind drug addict thing?

 

[the pict]

I would stick a needle in these aholes I mean they contribute damn all and nick anything, it may seem extreme but if they do not want help sterilise them before puberty so they can't breed, or we will find ourselves over-run with them
Pict

 

[Guitarist]

The eco-social balance is already changing. It's not PC to talk about it tho.

 

[trev]

more than likely something like that, i normally dont even touch the switches in the houses as some tenants have been known to snap used needles off in the bottom of them, then when you push the bottom of the switch in the needle sticks in your finger.

Anyone doing such a disgusting unhealthy thing should be publicly executed imho. I was on a council job once in a known junky's flat, he swore to us that he had cleared away all the needles. Within 5 minutes of opening our toyboxes both of us found one at the same time, tools back in boxes. Door closed behind us and we didn't go back.

 

[Moses]

I'm confused, why would people put needles into light switches? Is this some kind drug addict thing?

No its to infect the healthy you, with HIV virus, when you operate the switch.

 

[Marvo]

No its to infect the healthy you, with HIV virus, when you operate the switch.

I'm trying to decide if you're joking.:38:

 

[Moses]

I'm trying to decide if you're joking.:38:

No not a joke. I have asked this question and was told this.

 

[Guitarist]

There are some very sick people out there who like to pass on their suffering to others...

 

[Moses]

There are some very sick people out there who like to pass on their suffering to others...

they think of it as REVENGE!!!!!

 

[Marvo]

I'm still trying to decide if you're joking or not or if it's some warped urban legend. In my naivety I even googled it but there were no results relevant to people sticking needles in light switches.

 

[keniff]

I was working in a block of flats and they said not to use the handrails due to junkies sticking needles to them. They should all have one shot to the forehead, mind you that would be to quick

 

[Jimmy Boy]

I was working in a block of flats and they said not to use the handrails due to junkies sticking needles to them. They should all have one shot to the forehead, mind you that would be to quick

Given the size of the brain rattling around in their nut you might miss it.. I'd go with a double tap lol

 

[Moses]

I'm still trying to decide if you're joking or not or if it's some warped urban legend. In my naivety I even googled it but there were no results relevant to people sticking needles in light switches.

You can't learn everything off Google!!!

Some things you learn by working on Council and Housing association properties, which don't get to google!!!!!

 

[oldtimer]

I got a job where the guy got a shock as he switchd his kettle on and the kitchen lights at the same time I traced the problem down to the supply to the 12v halogen lights (8-off) and half the circuit including the switch was not connected to earth and there was an induced voltage on it hence when he touched the metal kettle and he brushed across the metal screws of the plastic light switch

Also just to add I found it by testing between the socket earth for the kettle and the screws of the switch with a fluke multimeter

 

[JD6400]

I'm still trying to decide if you're joking or not or if it's some warped urban legend. In my naivety I even googled it but there were no results relevant to people sticking needles in light switches.

No urban myth , seen it personally in at least 2 property's around the Aylesbury Vale housing stock when i worked for a firm doing refits about 10 years ago !
In another property we kept going back too , the scum bag father would come back p"""ed and kick off the socket fronts and holes in the doors that we had replaced only a few days before , from memory that family was one of the VERY few to be moved on !

 

[Guitarist]

No urban myth , seen it personally in at least 2 property's around the Aylesbury Vale housing stock when i worked for a firm doing refits about 10 years ago !
In another property we kept going back too , the scum bag father would come back p"""ed and kick off the socket fronts and holes in the doors that we had replaced only a few days before , from memory that family was one of the VERY few to be moved on !

Shame there was an RCD....

 

[Moses]

You devil you, Guitarist!!!!

 

[JD6400]

This is a little of thread i know , but my last post reminded me of another one we did .
It was for the council again , and was for a special needs case .
The teenage son was a proper little """" and kept ( when not punching or head butting his mum ) punching and head butting holes in the plaster board walls in his specially built bedroom / on suit bathroom , he apparently had adhd and could not help it .:skep:
So it was decided instead of constantly repairing them they would line the walls with 1/2" ply then over board with plaster board !
So one day while the little """" is at school we hit it hard with the other trades and get it done up to ready for plastering as he would apparently take it badly and it would upset his routine if we were there when he got back !
Anyway by all accounts when he gets back he does go off on one and after nutting his mum one , he promptly tries it on the new wall , followed by a night in a&e .:hurray:
When we went back about a week later his mum said it had cured the little """" overnight !!!!!

 

[Guitarist]

I think they call that "aversion therapy".....

 

[Guitarist]

You devil you, Guitarist!!!!

There's a saying here in Norfolk, if he'd got a belt.... That'll learn im