Got shocked by a bench grinder

1976cb356

1976cb356

Twins FTW
I was switching out the grinding wheels with polishing wheels and when doing so I got electricuted by the grinder. I looked for any wires, and the only explanation I got, is that it came from the grinder. Luckily I put my shoes on, because before so I step on a piece of metal and I just happened to be standing in water. It shot up through my arms and I could feel it in my chest. My arms feel like I was working out and one arm feels like a pulled a muscle. When I got shocked it flexed my muscles like crazy.

Idk if anyone has ever had this problem, but please share if u do.
 
How old is the grinder? If its an older unit it could be a bad ground. My grand-dad always took wire straps to any bench electrical equipment to ground it out to his bench which was bolted down to a cement floor. I don't remember even some of his sketchier electrical equipment even shocking him.
 
1976cb356 said:
...Luckily I put my shoes on, because before so I step on a piece of metal and I just happened to be standing in water....
Click to expand...

Nahhh.... grind barefoot ;)
 
well if you were grinding barefoot standing on metal, the shock would have passed straight through you and you wouldnt have felt anything...


I've never had this issue. I'd look for a short or a bad ground. the grinder does have a ground, right? And if its new, I'd contact the company about a replacement/threaten to sue.
 
I used to get shocked by the MIG welder at my highschool because we had some wire cutters with a chain welded between them and the work table. If you were snipping off your wire or cleaning out the cup and accidentally squeezed the trigger, it resulted in a nasty shock. I mention it because afterward, you couldn't get a boner for a week.
 
Is the grinder three wire plug or two? If it is three wire is there a ground wire attached to that terminal?

I'll wager this grinder isn't on a GFCI circuit. The reason you got shocked was you made the connection between the hot side and ground or neutral. If it's two wire replace the cord with a three wire and ground the green wire to the housing of the grinder. If it blows the fuse check the wires inside the motor. If they're good have the motor rebuilt.

If it's three wire, check between the ground plug (the "U" shaped plug in the middle of the plug) to the housing. Make sure there is a good connection between those two. ,

In either case, make DAMN sure that there is No connection between the black wire and the housing. This means your grinder housing is hot and is a dangerous situation that needs to be fixed by the fellow that rebuilds your grinder motor.

FMTL
 
Rocan said:
well if you were grinding barefoot standing on metal, the shock would have passed straight through you and you wouldnt have felt anything...
Click to expand...
That is bad information. Electricity finds the quickest path to ground. If you're standing barefoot and touch a hot lead, you are the ground, and will be shocked.
 
Redbird said:
That is bad information. Electricity finds the quickest path to ground. If you're standing barefoot and touch a hot lead, you are the ground, and will be shocked.
Click to expand...

are you sure redbird? I had derived that bit of information from hearing of how power line workers would not get shocked while attached to the power lines as the current would simply flow straight through them. yes, electricity finds the quickest path to ground, but if you are not the ground, then the power would pass through you and into whatever your standing on.

I mean, then again, just the power passing through you could have the potential to stop your heart (and I will not get into exactly how, its laborious to explain and I've had enough of studying the nervous system for a couple years)
 
FYI;

Grounded or not, the electricity passing through is the problem due to the natural resistance to the current flow your body has. I worked in a power plant for decades and we did not under any circumstances allow ourselves to become a conduit for electricity. If you have zero resistance (not possible) the current will flow through without effect but that is not the case. Ohms Law states that Current (expended inside your body due to the natural resistance to current flow) is equal to the Voltage divided by the Resistance of your body in Ohms. Seeing as how it only takes a few milliamps of current in an anternating current (AC) circuit to cause your heart to go into fibrillation (heart attack!!), providing ANY path to ground through your body is a situation to be avoided at any cost.

When we used electric devices (drills, grinders, etc.) in the plant on concrete or dirt we were required to use a GFCI pigtail (like these) that would protect us from becoming the inadvertent path to ground. These guys were numbered and tested monthly for proper operation and everybody had access to one or more. Unless ALL of your tools are double insulated, I strongly suggest getting one if you work in a concrete floored shop. A $68.00 GFCI is cheap next to a stay in ICU for a day or two!!!

We only had one person get electrocuted at the plant in the 31 years I was there and he didn't work for the company. He was trying to steal copper out of a switchyard. (Bright Boy!!!) The flash burned a hole through him big enough to drop a golf ball through and fried all of the fat in him to the human equivalent of pork rinds!!! That was on 6KVA (6000 Volts AC). I can assure you that being the flow path for electricity is not to be desired no matter what the voltage!!!

FMTL
 
Frankmowthelawn said:
FYI;

Grounded or not, the electricity passing through is the problem due to the natural resistance to the current flow your body has. I worked in a power plant for decades and we did not under any circumstances allow ourselves to become a conduit for electricity. If you have zero resistance (not possible) the current will flow through without effect but that is not the case. Ohms Law states that Current (expended inside your body due to the natural resistance to current flow) is equal to the Voltage divided by the Resistance of your body in Ohms. Seeing as how it only takes a few milliamps of current in an anternating current (AC) circuit to cause your heart to go into fibrillation (heart attack!!), providing ANY path to ground through your body is a situation to be avoided at any cost.

When we used electric devices (drills, grinders, etc.) in the plant on concrete or dirt we were required to use a GFCI pigtail (like these) that would protect us from becoming the inadvertent path to ground. These guys were numbered and tested monthly for proper operation and everybody had access to one or more. Unless ALL of your tools are double insulated, I strongly suggest getting one if you work in a concrete floored shop. A $68.00 GFCI is cheap next to a stay in ICU for a day or two!!!

We only had one person get electrocuted at the plant in the 31 years I was there and he didn't work for the company. He was trying to steal copper out of a switchyard. (Bright Boy!!!) The flash burned a hole through him big enough to drop a golf ball through and fried all of the fat in him to the human equivalent of pork rinds!!! That was on 6KVA (6000 Volts AC). I can assure you that being the flow path for electricity is not to be desired no matter what the voltage!!!

FMTL
Click to expand...

This is way too sciency for me, all I know is getting shocked gives me wood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light
    • www.jadusmotorcycleparts.com
    www.lostapostle.ca/
    www.sparckmoto.com

    Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom