Electric shocks!!

[Timmo]

Just a quick question which I really hope someone can help with.

When I am driving my rib with wet hands ( for example, when I get back onboard after waterskiing ) I get these very uncomfortable "shocks" from the steering wheel.

The feeling can only be described as a strong tingling sensation...quite unpleasant

[Kernow Buoy]

The feeling can only be described as a strong tingling sensation...quite unpleasant

It does sound as though you may have a short there somewhere Timmo, but hey, any strong tingling on an extremity can take some explaining!
Kernow

[Jimbob]

hI

I'M not sure that 12v would do that, if its a real shock that makes you JUMP, i would suggest its higher voltage. such as ignition system

[gavin]

12 volts absolutly will give you a shock, as will a 9v battery etc.That is if you test it with your tounge.You may have read in previous posts I have suggested that it is absolutely pointless fitting a battery isolater switch on a boat, turning it off when absent, but having a fixed bilge pump fed off the live side of the switch.The reason for this I maitain is that no matter how well insulated a cable or piece of equipment is on a boat, electric current will leak in damp wet conditions, causing battery drain and driving electrolisis.You will feel a 12v tingle, some more than others, as peoples resistance (body) will vary, approx 2000 ohms.However with wet hands resistance drops and we feel shocks, especially tro cuts , on tounges, or tro warts for example.If you run equipment badly insulated or with bad connections it is perfectly feasable for electrical paths to be made tro alternative routes, wet hands wet consoles, its called tracking.Try to turn off various bits of equipment to discover the cause of the leak, or try earting the steel part of the wheel assembly to the eng or batt negative, ...........you could also try wearing MARIGOLDS

[EDDO]

Gavin
How did you find out that you can get a shock through a WART!!

I new an old lady that went out with a soldier during the second WW. He took her to the funfair and kept getting shocks through the nails in the soles of his army boots, on the dodgems!

Ed

[gavin]

Warts like nails etc ar straight into under your skin, where its wet moist etc, I have been shocked on our own boat when I touched a finger wart off a positive point on batt switch.Get a phase taster at home , put it in a socket live, now touch with a finger, no problem, touch with a cut or wart you will get a nasty belt

[Swifty]

Had a similar problem myself last year. No not with warts, but with shocks off the gear lever. It turned out to be the 12v supply wire of the trim switch had chaffed through and was shorting onto the gear lever. It turned out later on to be the cause of a little burn up once the live found a ground!

[EDDO]

Timmo
You havnt got shag pile carpet in your boat have you?
Seem to remember when i wore trainers and touched a door handle!!
Ed