I've been zapped countless of times by static electricity, and I'm sure most, if not all of you, have also. Always a no big deal. Until...

Yesterday morning, I was going to go running out in the street but then heard a lot of thunder rumbling. So, I went and checked the weather radar and saw a heavy storm about to roll through our area. Not wanting to potentially get struck by lightning, I decided to run indoor on my treadmill...

And I was running on the treadmill like I've done a gazillion times. Ceiling fan on high. Ran for an hour. When finished, I reached up to grab the pull chain to slow the fan to medium, already expecting a microsecond zap and done. Instead, my hand just got sucked in and stuck to the chain and shocked for, and I estimated, about three seconds, before I came to the realization and yanked hard and broke the chain. All that brief of a time, I was feeling the shock coursing through my body to my arm. That was truly a Holy Shit moment. My fingertips were sore and numb the rest of the day, but I was fine otherwise. But I still don't get it. The same activity that I've done time and time again, and all of a sudden, shit happened. Reminded me of Death Wish II's end scene, when the bad guy was electrocuted. That's how I felt, but luckily I'm still here.

The next time, thunder or not, I'm going outside.

Are you sure you weren’t shocked by a bad fan on 110V AC?

That doesn’t sound at all like static electricity there.

Electrocutions on house current are often described as you said, the AC current “grabs” you and won’t let go.

I’d check your fan before someone gets hurt or killed.

Any chance there is an issue with your fan?

Perhaps it has a loose connection, there is a grounding issue?

Maybe the sweat from your hand was a better conductor than usual?

Static is momentary, I am concerned there is something more here.

Except for the broken fan pull chain, nothing is apparently loose. Fan stills works but is now stuck at medium speed. All four light bulbs are functional. No further shock since yesterday. Yeah, I'll eventually have some pro take a look at it and see.

Q,

I've mistakenly wired a ceiling fan and it did JUST that.

Obviously for that to be your problem something may have come loose or connections touched or something but I found out quickly I had wired the fan wrong.

Your fan might be energized.
Normally your standing on the floor, not touching anything. No ground to complete the path.
This time you was on the tread mill (grounded) and it got ya.
Or a wire worked its way loose or rubbed through the insulation.

Checking the fan is in order.
Yes, 120v AC grabs you, while higher voltages will blow you away.

*If you was electrocuted, you should have gone to the ER so they could monitor your heart for 24-48 hrs. To make sure it stays in rhythm. But, I'm sure you know this...

I found that out the hard way, when they kept me after getting hung up until a 30a 240v breaker tripped (had it not, I wouldn't be here today). Muscles contract (hit one leg 120v) and you can not let go. In my case, I didn't even know what was happening. Couldn't let go, nor could I see. I just knew I couldn't take 'it' (whatever was happening) any longer when the energy started leaving my body through my arms (hands where grounded). Like a water level dropping, draining down from my shoulders through my arms until it all left through my hands. Only then could I let go and see again.

BTW, eat some bananas. It will replace the potassium in which the electricity burned up.
A potassium pill was the first thing they gave me after they got me all hooked up like a computer.
*Potassium helps regulates the heart... another thing which I'm sure you know.

*Added this information for people who might not know.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
<snip>
That doesn’t sound at all like static electricity there.
<snip>

I’m in complete agreement with PASig

Glad that weren’t hurt worse! You need to find the potentially lethal problem, pronto. Pay an electrician if necessary.

What those above me said. Have someone check out the fan, the treadmill, and the outlet for polarity and grounding.

Definitely not static.

Glad you are alright.

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:

This time you was on the tread mill (grounded) and it got ya.

Even if he had stepped off I'm assuming sweaty and wet after an hour run. May have been way more conductivity that usual.

Our Bidet lost its ground, so when we sat on it you didn't notice anything, but let the slightest amount of moisture be on the bathroom floor and you'd get a nice zap to your ass cheeks.

I've disconnect it completely until I get ready to leave.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:
Definitely not static.

Glad you are alright.

Yes. The static electricity “zap” is a discharge of built up electrons. When you did was complete a circuit. I’m glad you’re not any worse off!

When I was in college, I worked in the kitchens. We had a big event one day and had a 20 gallon industrial coffee marker plugged into a 220 line. It wasn’t fully plugged in, however, and when it was my job to unplug it and break it down for cleaning, I grabbed two of the prongs. It felt like I had ants crawling inside my arm at light speed. I involuntarily screamed and jumped back about three feet. You got a slightly milder version of that same experience.

I had a similar Hampton Bays ceiling fan in my living room, controlled by a light switch. I installed that fan in 2005. Last year I turned it on and heard a pop and buzz from the lights.

Got out the ladder, climbed up, took the light fixture assembly down and found the insulation on the wiring inside was cracked and brittle. It had shorted out against the shell of the fixture.

Went to Home Depot and bought a new fan / light:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ho...trol-59252/308039187

Works great and simple to install.

Good luck.

I agree with all who said that you didn't get zapped by static electricity, and hope you get the electrical issue sorted out soon!

Q, what you’re describing is not static. Static electricity is not capable of shocking you over a period of time as you’re describing.

Even if you create a Leyden Jar, it will save the charge of static electricity, but it won’t dole out the power, it’s more like a capacitor where it releases all the stored energy at once.

The first two things I would check are the cord to the treadmill. Does it still have its grounding prong (the big round third prong on the plug). I would make sure to verify that the ground in the socket is connected and is grounding.

Next thing I would check is the common (return) wire from the fan. What you describe sounds like it’s not the full 15 amps of 120. If the common was able to short and you became the ground… That’s why I question the ground on the treadmill. I would also check that the fan is grounded as well.

I’m glad you’re okay Q, and it wasn’t more serious. Sorry about the popcorn ceilings. I’m dealing with that at a friend’s house right now.

I agree with everyone else, that doesn’t sound like static. Definitely some difference in potential going on there. From your picture, a question. Were you standing on that treadmill? If so, have it checked by a pro. You spent an hour spinning that belt and working it. Possibly a source?

Yes, check the grounds on both first. Start with the house if it's an older structure and that may require an electrician to help you.

Also check the ground/neutral is done correctly inside the base of the fan and also where the cord goes into the treadmill and at the plug end, if it's not the original molded on end.

Neutral is usually a white wire and ground green or a bare wire. On older wiring, the neutral was the ground (two wires, not 3). There is a wider blade on one side of the plug (neutral) but if the cord was ever replaced, someone could have done that wrong too.

This is a good excuse to buy a good multi-meter if you don't have one already.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Instead, my hand just got sucked in and stuck to the chain and shocked for, and I estimated, about three seconds, before I came to the realization and yanked hard and broke the chain. All that brief of a time, I was feeling the shock coursing through my body to my arm. That was truly a Holy Shit moment. My fingertips were sore and numb the rest of the day, but I was fine otherwise.

Everything you're describing is characteristic of AC, not static electricity. The "sucked in" response, feeling it "coursing through" your body, being unable to let go of the chain, the lingering soreness and numbness.

Electrical shocks, unlike static electricity, require a circuit between the energized bit and neutral or ground. Something else on your body--other hand, leg, etc., must have been in contact with the frame of the treadmill or something? What was it?

Either the fan or the other thing with which you were in contact is faulty. Unplug or otherwise disconnect it immediately, and leave it disconnected until you can have it professionally inspected.

Whichever thing it is, it is an electrocution hazard (obviously), and quite possibly a fire hazard.

Trivia: That "sucked in" response is what makes AC more dangerous than DC in terms of electrocution hazard. Exposure to DC is more inclined to repel you than suck you in. It was one of the arguments Edison used aginst Tesla during The War of the Currents: AC vs. DC Power. The CBC network series Murdoch Mysteries even did an episode on it.

Q, glad your OK, need the NW Houston Sigforum contingent to remain healthy and strong!!

HK Ag

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
*Added this information for people who might not know.

I did not know those things.

Once I was shocked so bad through the left arm down to my feet. In the pitch black I touched an energized light bulb filament with the glass bulb gone, all while standing in an inch of water. It partially dislocated my shoulder and threw me to the ground, leaving my clothes steaming. I was able to get my shoulder back in by grabbing a handrail and providing some traction. I probably should have gone to the hospital. Definitely should have eaten a banana.

My maternal grandfather was a genius with anything electrical. He had a basement of stuff that would blow your mind. Cool military surplus, radios, tube oscilloscopes. You name it. I once watched him install an electric water heater, and to check for power he licked a finger and laid it across the 220v contacts. He died at 94 in his bed asleep. Go figure.

As for the OP, I'll put in another vote for a short to chassis on an open grounded appliance, either the fan or the treadmill. In my first house, I had a medicine cabinet that would give you a tingle when you touched it. Similar problem. It gives me cold sweats now to know that you could reach that medicine cabinet from the tub.

Glad you're OK, Q!

Good info above. Hope your electrician can find/fix the issue.