Shock from a kettle

[baggielad]

We have just moved house and twice we’ve had a shock from a kettle. The kettle is cordless with a plastic base and chrome sides and the shock happened when you push the plastic switch down to turn the kettle on and then touch the chrome side. It feels like a powerful static shock, but I’ve not been able to recreate it even by rubbing my feet on a carpet! It never happened in the old house. I can replace the kettle, but I’m concerned there could be a fault with the house electrics. It’s an old fuseboard which has MCBs but no RCDs, but I’m just wondering whether there are any checks I could do – I do have a voltmeter. I assume that if there was a fault wouldn’t the earth take any current to ground or could it just be static?

 

[EFLImpudence]

You need to check the wiring in the kettle, particularly the earth wires, and

then the earth in the socket and that it is actually connected to and earth somewhere.


Deos the kettle do it on other sockets on different circuits?

See this thread to test:
https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/confirming-continuity-of-earth.510450/

 

[baggielad]

You need to check the wiring in the kettle, particularly the earth wires, and

then the earth in the socket and that it is actually connected to and earth somewhere.


Deos the kettle do it on other sockets on different circuits?

See this thread to test:
https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/confirming-continuity-of-earth.510450/

Thanks for the reply. I've not tried it on any other socket, but it's happened so infrequently I'm not sure whether it's worthwhile. I will do some of the tests referred in the thread.

 

[bernardgreen]

but it's happened so infrequently I'm not sure whether it's worthwhile

Per person death only occurs once...............

 

[ericmark]

Since kettle did not trip RCD in old house, it would seem likely you have a wiring fault which could impact on more than the kettle, although you could buy RCD adaptors for every socket, it would seem prudent to get an electrical installation condition report (EICR) which should always be done with change of occupant.

 

[crystal ball]

Was there an RCD in the old house?

 

[333rocky333]

Put your voltmeter on volts and measure between the kettle case and things like a metal washing machine, tap or even the visible earth metal or a screw of a plug socket, be careful though, if in doubt STOP using kettle.

 

[flameport]

but it's happened so infrequently I'm not sure whether it's worthwhile.

Receiving a shock from any electrical appliance even once requires that the cause be investigated and whatever fault is repaired immediately.

 

[ericmark]

I had a report of sparks coming off the hook of a tower crane, it turned out to be wind generated static, nothing to do with power used to work the crane, however it was still fully investigated, we did not say Oh it's likely static and continue drinking tea.

 

[StephenOak]

@bernardgreen @flameport

I took

I've not tried it on any other socket, but it's happened so infrequently I'm not sure whether it's worthwhile.

to mean that trying a different socket would be unlikely to give any useful information, rather than ignoring the risk. He did say that he was doing other tests.

 

[FrodoOne]

We have just moved house and twice we’ve had a shock from a kettle. The kettle is cordless with a plastic base and chrome sides and the shock happened when you push the plastic switch down to turn the kettle on and then touch the chrome side. It feels like a powerful static shock, but I’ve not been able to recreate it even by rubbing my feet on a carpet! It never happened in the old house. I can replace the kettle, but I’m concerned there could be a fault with the house electrics. It’s an old fuseboard which has MCBs but no RCDs, but I’m just wondering whether there are any checks I could do – I do have a voltmeter. I assume that if there was a fault wouldn’t the earth take any current to ground or could it just be static?

You stated
"the shock happened when you push the plastic switch down to turn the kettle on and then touch the chrome side."
When did the "shock" happen? On pushing the plastic switch or on touching the chrome side?
You also wrote
"It feels like a powerful static shock, but I’ve not been able to recreate it even by rubbing my feet on a carpet! "

If you cannot recreate the "shock" immediately (without moving your location) under the same conditions then it IS a "static electrical shock".
(A "static" electrical shock would be dissipated in an instant. However, any "fault" which produces a "Mains" derived electric shock would continue, again and again.)

I do have a great deal of difficulty in explaining to my partner that her receiving a "shock" when turning around in her chair to turn off an Earthed metal standard lamp is not a fault in the lamp but the "static" electricity produced by her wearing certain synthetic winter clothing.
Her obstinate reaction to my suggestion to repeat the action without significant movement involving rubbing against clothing or upholstery is usually along the lines of "I have been hurt once so I will not try it again."

Once upon a time, I worked in a new office building where the combination of the carpet on the floor and the soles of my shoes caused a "static" build-up, which was discharged through my finger tip whenever I pressed the Lift Button.
I soon learned to either use the ring on my finger to do the pressing of the button or use a key to do it, so that the small discharge involved would not be felt as a small "pin-prick" on the tip of my finger.