Hard to call it a tool, but I need advice

Stan in Oly, WA

Well-known Member
Mt wife said she got a shock from a heating pad yesterday. I took it out of its cloth cover, plugged it in, turned it on, and ran my hand all over every part of it. I was dry and not grounded, so I figured I'd feel a tingle but not get knocked down. Nothing. There's no visible hole or tear in any part of the waterproof plastic covering, and the cord entering the device appears completely sound. Any suggestions about how to test for a problem? I'd be happier about throwing it away if I could find out what is wrong with it. If a person thinks an appliance might shock them, they can mistake a scratch, or even a twinge in their wrist for a shock. Since my wife had no expectation of that happening, I believe that she did get a shock, and we're not going to keep using it in any case. But now it's gotten to be a challenge to me to come up with a way to find the problem.

Stan
 
Could she have had a small cut or skin abrasion? That makes for higher sensitivity to current. They don't cost that much. Potential for injury far outweighs the risk.
 
Should you be in the tub when you throw it in, just to make sure GFCI is working properly? Joke!!
 
Stan , Just plug it into a GFI and if there is any leakage the GFI will trip. I suspect what she got was a static shock. I have gotten more fake shocks at work than real. Like when your working on one wire and another drags up your wrist and you jerk away thinking it's current. Plug it in wiggle the heck out of it and if it doesn't trip you should put it back in service. I have gotten 1500 volts shocks from dead cables where the testing outfit forgot to bleed them down . Capacitance. { well I kinda learned to bleed them first rather than test with my hand.]
 
She may have had it folded slightly where the exposed wire is at, you may not find it unless you fold it at the same place. I'd give it to my mother-in-law to make sure it doesn't go to waste.
 
Takes a current path through the body for a shock (except for static/very high voltage) from wall plug current, so what grounded item was she touching, such as metal lamp, cook stove, hairdryer, etc? If the rest of her body was isolated from ground then she got a static charge shock & pad is all good.
 
And the whole thing could catch on fire when you aren't around and burn your house down. Better toss it and/or increase your home insurance.
 
Hey, doctor;

I'd say more than 90% of all the shocks I've ever gotten while working with electricity have resulted from imagination rather than from current. All kinds of random physical sensations feel like shocks if electricity is what's on your mind. My wife was in bed (completely dry, by the way), not touching anything which could serve as a ground. So, all things considered, what I'm thinking is that the best thing is for me to keep my big mouth shut and throw the heating pad away and buy another one.

Stan
 
i pulled a muscle in my back early december.after a couple days not getting any better my wife got me out the electric heating pad after about five minuets all of a sudden i noticed it got real hot real fast put my hand back there and it burnt me it was so hot
i almost leaped out the recliner bad back and all.then it started smoking i unplugged it opened the door and threw it out in the yard.it actually put a small burn stain on the recliner let me tell you it was getting interesting there for a while.
RICK
 
Industrial electrician by trade.

Had a pinched nerve in my neck, would make my hand tingle all the time.
Got real jumpy while working in live panels, kept thinking I was getting bit.

"So, all things considered, what I'm thinking is that the best thing is for me to keep my big mouth shut and throw the heating pad away and buy another one."

Probably your best plan. You may not be able to flex it the exact way to duplicate the problem, and even if it's good, she's never gonna believe it's OK and use it again anyway.

Fred
 
When a young fellow on a double date, we arrived at my girlfriend's house and wanted some privacy. She suggested we get into her brother's '56 Mercury for some dark privacy. Her brother had put on new plastic seat covers and she had new nylon under garments. Someway a static charge from the plastic and the nylon lit up the interior of the car. Scared us and we thought it was some kind of an omen and I walked her to the door for just a kiss. P.S. her fear and guilt was of short duration
 
Stan, before you throw it away, cut the cord off. This accomplishes two things - (1) it keeps a "dumpster diver" from recovering a possibly hazardous piece of equipment and (2) you can always find a small apppliance that needs a cord replaced, and you have a ready replacement.

I'm too cheap to throw anything "good" away. lol

Doc
 

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