Why do you have the possibility of electricuting yourself in a bath tub with a hair dryer?

People usually get accidentally electrocuted because they allow themselves to become ';grounded' while in contact with a ';live'; source of electrical power. The hair dryer is the potential source of ';live'; electrical power. The plumbing in the bath tub is the potential source of a ';ground';. Now all you need to do is imagine how you can place some part of your body between the two. Maybe fill the tub with warm conductive water (add some bath salts?), climb in, then drop the hair dryer in the tub.





Even if it's not turned on, there is a good chance that conductive water will reach the ';live'; terminal in the power cord, assuming the on/off switch is located on the dryer. The dryer will be wet from the water in the tub. You reflexively pick it up out of the water... gazap! You are now completing an electrical circuit, through your body, between the conductive wet hair dryer, the water, and the grounded plumbing.





The National Electrical Code requires that all bathrooms, or anyplace where small appliances can be used in the presense of water, to have GFI or Ground Fault Interrupter protected outlets. If these are installed and work as advertised, power to the outlet will be interrupted as soon as the dryer hits the water and electrocution will be avoided.





GFI protected outlets have a limited number of cycles (thousands) before they fail to protect anymore. So, they should be tested weekly to make sure they work. Pushing the ';Test'; button simulates dropping the hair dryer into the bath tub water, causing the ';Reset'; button to pop out, and power to be disconnected from the outlet. If this works, it will probably also work the next time. Still, I wouldn't be using a hair dryer while sitting in a bath tub and depending on a GFI protected outlet to save my life if something goes wrong.





All you astute electrical wizards will note that there are many conductive paths in the ';hair dryer in the bath tub'; scenario, none of which involve passing current through parts of a human body. This is true, but that doesn't mean there isn't enough current left over to do some real damage. It only takes a few thousandths of an ampere, passing through the heart, to cause ventricular fibrilation and death.Why do you have the possibility of electricuting yourself in a bath tub with a hair dryer?
No Joke .


Happened to a workmate's sister.


Current from the dryer (whether it is on or off) passes through the water %26amp; you to ground through the cold water pipes %26amp; drain .


Most often homes use the cold water supply line as the ground point for the electrical system. which you should never become part of .


This type of accident is why GFI breakers are required on all outlets within 6' of a water supply or drain.


They sense the fault ( current to ground) %26amp; shuts off power at the outlet before it can cause electrocution ( hopefully).Why do you have the possibility of electricuting yourself in a bath tub with a hair dryer?
My friend's sister was killed by her husband when he deliberately drugged her and put her hair dryer in the tub, with her. Only reason he got caught was she was terrified of taking a bath and always took showers. So the only reason you'd be electrocuted by a dryer in a tub is if your dumb or someone is out to get you. I hope it never happens to you.
Actually you probably won't electrocute yourself in a bathtub with a hair dryer unless there is water in the tub also. In that case the water conducts electricity through your body and shorts out your heart and brain.