shock from light switch

hi everyone, bit of a random question but when i switch my light on i keep getting a little electric shock, any1 and clues. thanks loads.,

standard plastic light switch or is it brass or s/steel ?

Taff

Plus if it is metal and suitably earthed then it might be a static discharge...

thinking back to my shell suit days lmao I used to get terrible shocks from my car as the nylon football shirts and tracksuits would cause a charge to build up only to discharge through me when I touched something at earths potential...

if you are comming into contact with a live potential then you must also be earthed elsewhere for a current to pass, depending on what protection you have would have tripped the house out eg... rcd, unless you have a split board with lights not on the rcd side lol.....

not a lot of people know that a live wire can be touched as long as the person touching it does not come into contact with something at a different potential ( do not try this at home !!!!!) that why birds that sit on live wires do not have an electric shock.....

can you elaborate on your problem ?

Taff

Sounds like some cabling gone wrong. could be a number of things but most likely a poor earth. A mouse could also have chewed through one of the wires causing a problem.

Get yourself a tester and a volt meter and trace back the loop to your fuse box, then do it again with the power off. Should be very cheap to sort out but it will take a bit of time

I was going to say it souds like static to me

If you keep your finger on it and you get a tingle, it maybe an electrical fault, but if it is a short sharp zap then its most probably static

Lick it...

see what happens

get someone else to turn it on, see if they get a shock.

does your hair stand up on end when you touch it...lol

thanks every1, the housing in the wall is metal and the light switch is a standard plastic one. (its an inside switch) thanks again for the replys,

pmoore31 said:

does your hair stand up on end when you touch it...lol

Click to expand...

oo sir touch it...sir shall we sir

get a mains tester screwdriver, only a couiple quid will tell u if its live or not.

gooddeed said:

Lick it...

see what happens

Click to expand...

lol ffs its not a 9v battery, try standin in a bucket of water and swtch the light on.
this will tell you if its an earthing problem, unfortunately you wont be around to report the fault : multi :

right guys, on a serious note !!!!!!!!

no one knows what protection is in place for prevention for harm to individuals in this particular case ???

comments that are made as a joke can be taken as gospel by others that know no better...

look in the interest in health and safety and what could potentially be a libel case against the site such comments and replies be only made by qualified and suitably insured people ????

As you appear to have no qualified electrical experience and as a representitive of this web site I recommend that you "seek proffesional qualified advice"

dont use the light switch until it has been deemed safe for you and others including children to use.....

hope you stay safe

Taff

on a serious note you should have it checked ASAP by an electrician, could be a cause of someones death if it is faulty. probably your own.

probably better closed now before you follow some of these and do harm yourself, get advice from an electrican