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Electrical Inspections Contains discussions about electrical systems. This includes receptacles, panels, wiring, etc.

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  #1  
Old 12/23/07, 5:53 PM
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John McKenna John McKenna is offline
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Default Freon Line Shocked Me

I touched the freon line of the AC unit and got zapped.... ouch.




John McKenna, CMI (TREC #4565)
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American Home Inspection - East Texas.

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  #2  
Old 12/23/07, 7:20 PM
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

Stop doing that !!!
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  #3  
Old 12/23/07, 7:57 PM
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

I was originally taught to check for 'ground faults' with my bare hands. Use the back of the hand.

tom
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  #4  
Old 12/23/07, 8:58 PM
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

Was it a static discharge or AC current? The other day a client turned on a switch and jumped, saying she got shocked. It was just static discharge as she brushed her finger over the cover screw. I did check to make sure it was not live.

Anatol
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  #5  
Old 12/23/07, 9:04 PM
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

John, how do you get to post large pictures?
the system has a 100k limit I thought....

To get shocked on a freon line, the ground has to be open at both equipment ends and a short from line to ground. Very uncommon problem it would seem.



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  #6  
Old 12/23/07, 9:30 PM
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by bking
John, how do you get to post large pictures?
the system has a 100k limit I thought....

To get shocked on a freon line, the ground has to be open at both equipment ends and a short from line to ground. Very uncommon problem it would seem.
Find any picture on a web site.
Highlight and copy (not copy image)
Paste.
Thats it.

Yup, this is the first time I ever got shocked by a freon line.



John McKenna, CMI (TREC #4565)
Executive Director - Master Inspector Certification Board
25 Yrs Constr Exp - 13 Yrs Home Inspector Exp
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  #7  
Old 12/23/07, 9:31 PM
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by apolillo
Was it a static discharge or AC current? The other day a client turned on a switch and jumped, saying she got shocked. It was just static discharge as she brushed her finger over the cover screw. I did check to make sure it was not live.

Anatol
It went through my entire body .... so it was not just static.



John McKenna, CMI (TREC #4565)
Executive Director - Master Inspector Certification Board
25 Yrs Constr Exp - 13 Yrs Home Inspector Exp
American Home Inspection - East Texas.

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Old 12/24/07, 2:25 AM
brian winkle brian winkle is offline
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by bking
John, how do you get to post large pictures?
the system has a 100k limit I thought....

To get shocked on a freon line, the ground has to be open at both equipment ends and a short from line to ground. Very uncommon problem it would seem.
Actually it would only have to be open at one end.

And let's not forget the possibility that it could be neutral current resulting from a compromised service neutral, which could easily place a potential on the grounding system.
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  #9  
Old 12/24/07, 7:47 AM
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

Bruce,
Thanks to Chris and his upgrades the photo limit has been increased to 250k and 800x800 res
Happy Holdays
Bruce



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  #10  
Old 12/24/07, 7:55 AM
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

John,

Nice wake-up call, huh? You learn from your mistakes.

Hey, what good does a pad do when it's at ground level?
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  #11  
Old 12/24/07, 7:58 AM
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David P. Valley David P. Valley is offline
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by bgraham
Bruce,
Thanks to Chris and his upgrades the photo limit has been increased to 250k and 800x800 res
Happy Holdays
Bruce
This upgrade still does not allow you to post larger pics directly to this MB. They still appear as thumbnails until you click on them, which then becomes larger.

What John did was place his image on-line (his website) ---- as he stated, he simply cut and pasted this image. Due to the image being on-line already, it'll post directly on this MB as a large image.
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  #12  
Old 12/25/07, 1:21 PM
Greg Fretwell Greg Fretwell is offline
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

I agree with the idea of checking the neutral or grounding electrode for this. It could be a bad EGC to the HVAC system too.

Was the outer enclosure hot too?

I know when I moved into this house the ground electrode was shot and I got the snot knocked out of me the first time I touched the stove while barefooted on the Terazzo floor.

Last edited by Greg Fretwell; 12/25/07 at 1:27 PM..
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  #13  
Old 12/25/07, 1:53 PM
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John McKenna John McKenna is offline
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg Fretwell
I agree with the idea of checking the neutral or grounding electrode for this. It could be a bad EGC to the HVAC system too.

Was the outer enclosure hot too?

I know when I moved into this house the ground electrode was shot and I got the snot knocked out of me the first time I touched the stove while barefooted on the Terazzo floor.
After I got shocked, I did not touch the unit to see if it was hot too...



John McKenna, CMI (TREC #4565)
Executive Director - Master Inspector Certification Board
25 Yrs Constr Exp - 13 Yrs Home Inspector Exp
American Home Inspection - East Texas.

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  #14  
Old 12/25/07, 3:35 PM
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Default Re: Freon Line Shocked Me

Sounds like an open ground. Shocking story, glad you did not get hurt. BTW that type of electrocution is the most dangerous,very low voltage stops the heart, which is why GFCI's are designed to prevent this. I've seen this caused by Fire Ants also.
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