Hot Water Heater Element ??

[mwm1752]

Electrician asking guidance. Customer complaining of shock when touching metal sink and stove.
Sink to stove voltage reads 3 to 5 volts. Same reading sink to grounding terminal on nearby receptacle.
Thinking is that the voltage is originating from a bad water heater element.
Trouble shooting scheduled to continue tomorrow.
(Commercial installation. Water heater supply source unknown, no disconnect)
Input ?

What is the path voltage is taking? are they bare foot standing on concrete? other hand on a grounded surface? when I was a teenager an old frig which had a 2 wire recept it plugged into & we had metal cabinets, when reaching for a glass & opening up the frig at the same time would get zapped. frig was plugged in wrong & when the polarity was reversed problem was eliminated.

 

[FionaZuppa]

Copper Main???

I have not seen one of those in new construction in years. It's all PE (The black pipe) around here for well or public water service.

Frank DuVal

not near me. i have copper from the street water co meter, comes up out of the ground near house, has ball valve, enters wall, then takes off with PEX from there. built in Dec2007.

 

[augie47]

not near me. i have copper from the street water co meter, comes up out of the ground near house, has ball valve, enters wall, then takes off with PEX from there. built in Dec2007.

Interior Gas piping in PEX ??? Are you sure its not PVC coated CSST ?

From the 2006 IRC
G2414.6 (403.6) Plastic pipe, tubing and fittings. Plastic
pipe, tubing and fittings used to supply fuel gas shall be used
outdoors, underground, only, and shall conform to ASTM D

 

[mgookin]

Interior Gas piping in PEX ??? Are you sure its not PVC coated CSST ?

From the 2006 IRC
G2414.6 (403.6) Plastic pipe, tubing and fittings. Plastic
pipe, tubing and fittings used to supply fuel gas shall be used
outdoors, underground, only, and shall conform to ASTM D

I think they're talking about potable water.

How's your situation? Did you figure it out?

 

[GoldDigger]

Interior Gas piping in PEX ??? Are you sure its not PVC coated CSST ?

From the 2006 IRC
G2414.6 (403.6) Plastic pipe, tubing and fittings. Plastic
pipe, tubing and fittings used to supply fuel gas shall be used
outdoors, underground, only, and shall conform to ASTM D

Where did you see any mention of gas in FZ's post?

 

[augie47]

mis-read... apologies (my mind was on the "black iron pipe" from another post.. common for gas here)