# Is touching a ground wire dangerous? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 19, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699 "2009-09-19T06:09:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/1 "2009-09-19T06:09:53Z")
I have a 3-prong adapter, the one with the little metal loop that is screwed into the outlet screw. Is that metal loop part dangerous? ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/2 "2009-09-19T06:59:08Z")
Unless the device is currently grounding itself out, no. So if whatever’s plugged in works, you should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/3 "2009-09-19T08:08:24Z")
If you’re touching the live feed with the other hand it will kill you. Otherwise you are touching something that literally is stuck in the ground. It’s as dangerous as grabbing copper water pipe. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/4 "2009-09-19T08:59:39Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Is that metal loop part dangerous? No. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/5 "2009-09-19T11:41:50Z")
> [@Silophant](#): > > Unless the device is currently grounding itself out, no. So if whatever’s plugged in works, you should be fine. But whether the device “works”, in the sense of “operates”, doesn’t tell you for certain that it isn’t grounding itself out. If the device connects hot to ground or connects anything that is pretty far from neutral to ground, then if your hand or body connects that loop to ground you will get a shock. The loop usually isn’t dangerous. If things conspire against you and your hand grounds the loop, you may get a shock limited to your hand, which will hurt but probably leave no visible damage. What you should be most worried about is creating a path through your body, especially your chest, that connects things dozens or more volts apart. If you can imagine putting one hand on the loop when the loop isn’t grounded, and the other hand on something that is grounded, then the scenario for disaster is possible. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/6 "2009-09-19T13:00:37Z")
In a perfect world, no. Unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world. There can be all sorts of faults, miswirings and who knows going on. There can even be weird transients so you can test it and it seems fine but then when the AC shuts off … Always assume a wire might be hot. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/7 "2009-09-19T13:03:37Z")
You guys need to get a grip. The aluminum siding on the house is just as likely to be electrified and kill the next person to touch it. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/8 "2009-09-19T13:39:21Z")
if the adapter is not plugged in that metal loop is sharp and pointy. if the adapter is plugged in it is dangerous in that you would be 1 inch away from a energized electrical wire (if that circuit was on) and though recessed there is still a slight danger but otherwise safe. if your wiring was 2 wire ungrounded that loop and the outlet plate screw would be ungrounded and that adapter would not give grounding protection, it would just allow a 3 prong plug to plug into a 2 prong outlet. if your wiring was 2 wire with ground and all was done correctly and up to the electrical code in the USA then that loop and outlet plate screw (on the bare metal) would be a ground potential (safe to touch) which would be the same for metal electrical conduit or metal plumbing in your house. those adapters are not reliable long term. many appliances and tools have gone to double insulation for protection and are 2 wire. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/9 "2009-09-19T14:41:04Z")
The grounding loop on those adapters are BS! They are more of a hazard than any good that could come from them. Just what is it grounding? Those outlets, unless attached to a metal box and metal frame are not grounded, and an attempt to to fasten one to the outlet brings one into close proximity to the primary with a blade screwdriver. That can be very dangerous. This thread brings back a memorable incident where I had pulled the cord/thermostat from our electric griddle and the male plug was still in the wall outlet. The Mrs. freaked out because of the long metal probe was going to electrocute us all. Sometimes being cautious without knowing everything is OK too, as I gave up trying to relay that the probe is only a thermostat sensor. It was probably the grin on my face that got to her more:), Yes its the right thing to do honey, I was wrong by not unplugging it from the wall 1st.😃 ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/10 "2009-09-19T16:04:39Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > You guys need to get a grip. The aluminum siding on the house is just as likely to be electrified and kill the next person to touch it. Aluminum siding?! :eek: Enjoy your death trap, sucker! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/11 "2009-09-19T17:05:26Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > You guys need to get a grip. The aluminum siding on the house is just as likely to be electrified and kill the next person to touch it. I have never been shocked by aluminum siding, but I have been shocked by the ground screw on an outlet. It doesn’t take much for some idiot to miswire an outlet, especially if it’s in an older 2 wire style of home. If the outlet is wired correctly, though, touching the screw on the outlet is electrically equivalent to touching the handle on your kitchen sink. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/12 "2009-09-19T17:18:00Z")
> [@Gbro](#): > > The grounding loop on those adapters are BS! They are more of a hazard than any good that could come from them. Just what is it grounding? Those outlets, unless attached to a metal box and metal frame are not grounded, and an attempt to to fasten one to the outlet brings one into close proximity to the primary with a blade screwdriver. That can be very dangerous. > This thread brings back a memorable incident where I had pulled the cord/thermostat from our electric griddle and the male plug was still in the wall outlet. The Mrs. freaked out because of the long metal probe was going to electrocute us all. > Sometimes being cautious without knowing everything is OK too, as I gave up trying to relay that the probe is only a thermostat sensor. It was probably the grin on my face that got to her more:), Yes its the right thing to do honey, I was wrong by not unplugging it from the wall 1st.😃 The metal box should be a safe ground, because when you wire an electrical box, you are supposed to attach the ground wire from your Romex to the grounding screw inside the metal box. That wire is in turn attached to the grounding lug inside the breaker box. Properly wired, every metal electrical box in your house should be grounded, and attaching the little lug to a screw in the faceplate of the box will give you a proper ground. However, this depends on the electrical wiring being done properly, and in my experience there are a lot of really bad wiring jobs out there. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/13 "2009-09-19T18:47:52Z")
I have only one thing to say about dangerous grounding: autotransformers that have been plugged into reversed polarity. I ran into this all the time overseas in the third world, where electrical practices were never consistent. 220v outlets in homes and offices were often wired with reverse polarity, which can cause all manner of problems when plugging in an autotransformer, not the least of which is to create a 220v potential to the grounding terminal. Lots of fried electronics resulted from that, and more than a few serious shocks to people working on the circuits. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/14 "2009-09-19T18:51:46Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I have never been shocked by aluminum siding, but I have been shocked by the ground screw on an outlet. It doesn’t take much for some idiot to miswire an outlet, especially if it’s in an older 2 wire style of home. > > If the outlet is wired correctly, though, touching the screw on the outlet is electrically equivalent to touching the handle on your kitchen sink. Obviously your not dead. You people will scare the shit out of the original poster for no reason. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/15 "2009-09-19T18:56:38Z")
If your circuits are wired correctly, then the ground wire is completely safe. If your circuits are wired incorrectly, then the ground wire might be dangerous, but in that case, so would a lot of other things you assume are safe. Anything with a metal case and a grounded plug has the ground in the plug connected to the case, so if touching the ground in an outlet is dangerous, then it’s also dangerous to touch the case of anything plugged into that outlet. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/16 "2009-09-19T19:18:22Z")
Chronos, the OP is asking about a metal lug on the side of an adapter, which (unless a screw bonds it to the receptical box) is connected to nothing except the ground lead in some device’s power cord. If the devices contains a ground fault far from its neutral, that lug is hot or somewhat hot relative to everything that’s grounded, if the circuits ARE wired correctly. Or do I misunderstand you, or the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/17 "2009-09-19T20:06:24Z")
The loop is connected to the screw that holds the cover plate of the outlet. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/18 "2009-09-19T22:03:02Z")
OK. Given that the screw is grounding that loop or lug. it’s safe. Sorry - I missed that point. ---
**Author:** ![Gbro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Gbro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gbro)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/19 "2009-09-20T13:20:29Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The metal box should be a safe ground, because when you wire an electrical box, \*\*you are supposed to attach the ground wire from your Romex to the grounding screw inside the metal box. \*\* That wire is in turn attached to the grounding lug inside the breaker box. Properly wired, every metal electrical box in your house should be grounded, and attaching the little lug to a screw in the faceplate of the box will give you a proper ground. > > However, this depends on the electrical wiring being done properly, and in my experience there are a lot of really bad wiring jobs out there. That’s the whole point, Those 2 wire systems have no ground wire to attach to anything. That is why I posted, > [@](#): > > Just what is it grounding? Those outlets, unless attached to a metal box and metal frame are not grounded, . I have rewired several outlets in my old house’s that needed grounding outlets. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699/20 "2009-09-20T13:30:44Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > If the outlet is wired correctly, though, touching the screw on the outlet is electrically equivalent to touching the handle on your kitchen sink. I seem to remember as a wee lad living in an old house where a kitchen sink DID give a good shock now and then. Just enough to scare you but not hurt you. And it did NOT have a garbage disposal. Sneeky electrons. Even in my limited exposure to all things wiring, I’ve seen a couple real WTF were they thinking/doing items. So, just about anythings “possible”. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-touching-a-ground-wire-dangerous/510699.md?page=2)