Two electrocutions / drownings

[hey_poolboy]

This evening on the news in central Illinois there was a very disturbing report.
A woman and her son were electrocuted and drowned in 11" of water in their basement. We have had significant rainfall and warmer than usual temperatures. The folks went down to start pumping out the water and were electrocuted.

No report yet as to what caused the electrocution, but they implied that it was some un-professional work.

 

[petersonra]

Re: Two electrocutions / drownings

That is often the claim, but I wonder why poor workmanship would be any more likely to cause an electrocution in such a case.

Standing in a pool of water while working on electrical cirucitry is just plain dangerous.

 

[jeff43222]

Re: Two electrocutions / drownings

I didn't see anything saying that the victims were working on circuitry, only that they were pumping out the water. Perhaps the water rose to a level where it reached some poorly installed electrical wiring, which could have electrocuted the victims when they came into contact with the water.

[ January 16, 2005, 01:56 AM: Message edited by: jeff43222 ]

 

[charlie]

Re: Two electrocutions / drownings

If any wiring was under water, wouldn't there be a shock hazard regardless of how the electrical system was installed? The only exception I can see to that is if GFCI breakers were protecting the entire circuits in the basement and grounded metal boxes were used throughout as well.

 

[petersonra]

Re: Two electrocutions / drownings

I agree. I don't see how the issue of installation even comes into it. I did not mean to suggest they were working on the wiring, but rather might have been plugging in a pump or something that exposed them to electricity.

But does so in standing water exposes you to a high degree of risk, regardless of the installation.

The GFCIs would probably protect you, but I'm not sure the metal conduit would be of any extra protective value.

 

[charlie]

Re: Two electrocutions / drownings

The conduit would not make a difference. However, the wiring inside a device box is exposed and would have a small path the grounding conductor. If the box were metal, the path to the grounding conductor would surround the device.