# How common is "stray voltage," and is it dangerous to humans who are exposed to it?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-stray-voltage-and-is-it-dangerous-to-humans-who-are-exposed-to-it/657103>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 30, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-stray-voltage-and-is-it-dangerous-to-humans-who-are-exposed-to-it/657103 "2013-04-30T14:09:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Khendrask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@Khendrask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khendrask)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-stray-voltage-and-is-it-dangerous-to-humans-who-are-exposed-to-it/657103/21 "2013-05-02T10:12:04Z")

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> [@Pleonast](#):
>
> Perhaps you should learn the facts of the case before pronouncing judgement. See the [LA Times](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/03/jury-awards-4-million-to-woman-injured-by-stray-currents-in-home.html) article.
> 
> She was suing the former owner of the house. Yes, SoCal Edison owned the house. Renters had reported electrical problems, but Edison didn’t fix the problems and didn’t disclose them when they sold the house. That looks a lot like they should be liable for problems.

Perhaps I did read the articles. Still total woo. If the problem did indeed exist, it would be easy to measure with a $5 meter from a flea market. I see absolutely no actual evidence presented, just a CA jury voting “Against The Machine” like usual.

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**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\
**Post date:** [May 2, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-common-is-stray-voltage-and-is-it-dangerous-to-humans-who-are-exposed-to-it/657103/22 "2013-05-02T14:57:19Z")

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> [@rogerbox](#):
>
> It doesn’t matter, her supposed health problems could not possibly be caused by a semi-live showerhead.

Whether or not the problems she claimed were caused by the fault, it’s not reasonable to have an electrified showerhead and it is reasonable for SoCal Edison to be liable.

> [@Khendrask](#):
>
> Perhaps I did read the articles. Still total woo. If the problem did indeed exist, it would be easy to measure with a $5 meter from a flea market. I see absolutely no actual evidence presented, just a CA jury voting “Against The Machine” like usual.

That’s nice for you, but the jury that actually saw all the actual evidence decided otherwise.

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