Getting poke?

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guschash

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Visiting my son in Colorado and working on his can lights, we keep getting poke ( shocked ). At first I thought it might have been grouping neutrals of different circuits together but not sure. Is this a grounding problem at the panel, I’m not sure what to look for. My step tho is checking the main panel and the sub to make everything is ok. This is a new house only two years old with solar panels. Any help in troubleshooting this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, gus
 
guschash said:
Visiting my son in Colorado and working on his can lights, we keep getting poke ( shocked ). At first I thought it might have been grouping neutrals of different circuits together but not sure. Is this a grounding problem at the panel, I’m not sure what to look for. My step tho is checking the main panel and the sub to make everything is ok. This is a new house only two years old with solar panels. Any help in troubleshooting this would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, gus
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I guess it could be a static charge from the carpet. If you think there is AC current on the metal cans I would check to make sure the cans are properly grounded. Could be someone didn't make a good connection in the grounds as they go from light to light (as far as I know they never get tested or even inspected).
 
What are you in contact with when you get this shock? You need two points of potential to get a shock. If you are only touching the can housing and other "insulated objects" then it may be static electricity - that would be a quick "poke" and be over with in an instant, until you do activity to charge yourself again.
 
kwired said:
What are you in contact with when you get this shock? You need two points of potential to get a shock. If you are only touching the can housing and other "insulated objects" then it may be static electricity - that would be a quick "poke" and be over with in an instant, until you do activity to charge yourself again.
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Given the time of year and the generally dry climate in Colorado, especially if he's in the Denver area/altitude, static would be my first guess.
 
Was the power to the can lights shut off? And what work were you doing? Are you touching the bare wire ends? Or are you saying the trims or housings are shocking you?
 
kwired said:
... static electricity - that would be a quick "poke" and be over with in an instant ...
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More to the point: If you get one quick shock and it doesn't happen again when you touch the same thing again, it's probably static electricity and probably no cause for concern.
But if you get a shock that's persistent and/or repeatable, it's not static electricity and it is a hazard.

Diagnosis over the Internet doesn't often work; someone with electrical expertise needs to be on site.
 
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