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Spark from ground wire normal?

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Spark from ground wire normal? SeanMartinFarrell 04-15-2008
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Posted by on April 15, 2008, 4:02 pm
Hi I was just removing a heater from the wall, had the right fuse out
and I got a big spark from the ground wire to the screwdriver when I
started to unsrew the ground. Is that normal? No juice in any of the
wires now including the ground.

I'm not that handy so I was just wondering. Thanks.

Posted by Speedy Jim on April 15, 2008, 4:08 pm
SeanMartinFarrell@gmail.com wrote:

> Hi I was just removing a heater from the wall, had the right fuse out
> and I got a big spark from the ground wire to the screwdriver when I
> started to unsrew the ground. Is that normal? No juice in any of the
> wires now including the ground.
>
> I'm not that handy so I was just wondering. Thanks.


Is it gas heater?
Could be stray current/voltage on gas pipe.

If it is gas, measure voltage from pipe to Gnd wire.

Posted by ransley on April 15, 2008, 5:17 pm
> SeanMartinFarr...@gmail.com wrote:
> > Hi I was just removing a heater from the wall, had the right fuse out
> > and I got a big spark from the ground wire to the screwdriver when I
> > started to unsrew the ground. Is that normal? No juice in any of the
> > wires now including the ground.
>
> > I'm not that handy so I was just wondering. Thanks.
>
> Is it gas heater?
> Could be stray current/voltage on gas pipe.
>
> If it is gas, measure voltage from pipe to Gnd wire.

Big spark, if you do a ground test you better have dry shoes with
rubber soles, wear rubber gloves and handle the insulated tools by the
insulated handle, a bad short can kill you, a clamp on amp meter might
prove if current is leaking.

Posted by dpb on April 15, 2008, 5:42 pm
SeanMartinFarrell@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi I was just removing a heater from the wall, had the right fuse out
> and I got a big spark from the ground wire to the screwdriver when I
> started to unsrew the ground. Is that normal? No juice in any of the
> wires now including the ground.

You have carpet? If no signs of any voltage, could be you simply
discharged yourself of a static charge...

--

Posted by on April 15, 2008, 6:40 pm
On Apr 15, 6:02=A0pm, SeanMartinFarr...@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi I was just removing a heater from the wall, had the right fuse out
> and I got a big spark from the ground wire to the screwdriver when I
> started to unsrew the ground. Is that normal? No juice in any of the
> wires now including the ground.
>
> I'm not that handy so I was just wondering. Thanks.

Thanks all for your ideas, there was no carpet and it was an electric
baseboard heater. When I touched the ground there was a spark, I
didn't feel a shock and all 3 wires are dead to the touch now. Like I
said I had the fuse out. It was a battery operated screwdriver. It was
weird. No idea what caused it.

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