Electric Shock and Leakage of Current

Sometimes due to carelessness or ignorance, electric phase (Live) wire comes in touch with human body and the current flows through the body as the body is good conductor of electric current. Muscular functions of the body are paralyzed. The current gives shock although it depends on voltage. When the body is dry, its resistance is more; hence, there is less current and less shock. But when the body is wet, its resistance is less, so there is more current and more shock for the same voltage. Electric shocks also occur due to leakage and earth faults in electrical appliances. 

Leakages of Current

Phase to Earth Shorting:

When phase wire in an appliance gets in touch with the body of the instrument, the current starts flowing through the earth as a parallel circuit. If there exists proper earth connection through earth pit (hole in the ground), a huge current will flow through it.

Leakage of Current to Earth:

If phase wire is connected to the body of instrument through a resistance, some amount of current will flow through earth. There will be no short (distance) between the phase and the earth and the fuse will not blow out.  If the instrument is in touch with earth properly, leaking current will go to earth. If a person touches the body of appliance, he would not get any shock.  If earthing of instrument is not proper, some current will flow through the body and we will feel shock. 

Wet Walls and Electrical Shocks:

If the water comes in contact with live electric wire either in a switch plate or naked joint, the conduction of current will start via water through earth. The entire wet wall will start giving shock. If earth path through building walls and floors has considerable resistance, the amount of current will be less. If the supply is on, the water touching with naked wire will cause the same shock as with live wire.   

Precautions during Electric Shock in Wet Walls

Whenever naked electric wire touches the wall either due to ignorance or carelessness or due to any fault, electric current flows into the wall.