# Technical Q from Syriana (Spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 28, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-q-from-syriana-spoilers/370530 "2006-08-28T15:25:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-q-from-syriana-spoilers/370530/1 "2006-08-28T15:25:47Z")
I would put this in Cafe Society, but it is a ore general question. In the movie Matt Damn’s son is electrocuted when he dives in toa poll in which there is a broken underwater light presumably sending electric current into the pool. My question is, is the amount of water in the pool enough to make the elctricity from a light fixture, less than lethal. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-q-from-syriana-spoilers/370530/2 "2006-08-28T15:26:52Z")
…dives **into a pool** … D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-q-from-syriana-spoilers/370530/3 "2006-08-28T15:39:23Z")
I am pretty sure we did this one recently. The answer was that it wouldn’t be lethal even with just a little water because underwater lights are designed not to be. Sorry, I can’t remember the voltage talk but a broken light in a pool won’t kill anyone. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-q-from-syriana-spoilers/370530/4 "2006-08-28T16:59:12Z")
Here’s the previous thread: [Getting electrocuted in a pool - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=361621) ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-q-from-syriana-spoilers/370530/5 "2006-08-28T17:16:00Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-q-from-syriana-spoilers/370530/6 "2006-08-28T20:26:26Z")
[QUOTE=Shagnasty] I am pretty sure we did this one recently. The answer was that it wouldn’t be lethal even with just a little water because underwater lights are designed not to be. Sorry, I can’t remember the voltage talk but a broken light in a pool won’t kill anyone. [/QUOTE] Would this still be true if some schmoe used the wrong light, ie, a regular floodlight of some sort? (now I’ll jaunt off through the linked thread to see if that’s discussed there) ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2006, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/technical-q-from-syriana-spoilers/370530/7 "2006-08-29T17:57:24Z")
In _Practical Sailor_ magazine, there were several articles about the mysteries of plugging a boat’s electrics into “shore power” (an outlet box on the dock.) A surprisingly small amount of current leaking into the water can disturb a person’s muscle control, taking away his ability to swim. It’s not the usual quick, shuddering electrocution, but if you can’t swim, you sink and drown.