[shawnp62]

I have been trying to find out what the cause is but have had no success. Sometimes we get a little shock when in the shower up stairs or down stairs. It is so light you can hardly notice it and sometimes it does not happen at all. This started about two years ago like a fool I thought the problem just up and went away. Well it either has been there the whole time or something wasn't being used for a while. Our daughter moved back into the house and she lives down stairs so I'm thinking that the problem came back because something down stairs is being used again. We have also been having trouble with the cable TV it also has a bit of a current running through it we have had the cable company out and they told us that the cable is grounded that it must be from our home. We I know this needs to be taken care of but as like many of us lately I have been in and out of work for some time and we are just trying to keep our home. And yes I know that being safe is more important that keeping our home. I am just hoping I can fix it myself with some help. If not I will call an electrician as soon as we get our taxes back. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[ma0641]

This can be a very dangerous situation, particularly in a damp basement. You have a poor ground or neutral connection at the breaker box or meter ground. The shock is the current going to ground through. YOU! Have this looked at ASAP. I would contact your local utility, they may help.

[shawnp62]

Thank you for your reply. I have been looking on the web for some more information and I believe I have found some things that are wrong. From what I have read the water meter should be grounded within 5 ft of the meter my meter goes about 20 ft and then is hooked up in the electrical panel to the neutral buss. Could this be the problem.

[ma0641]

Make sure the box ans buss are connected to an outside ground rod. You get corrosion at the connections and then the neutral isn't grounded you get shocked. Do you have copper or plastic piping?

[stanfortyman]

A connection to a ground rod is not going to correct a problem like this.

Thank you for your reply. I have been looking on the web for some more information and I believe I have found some things that are wrong. From what I have read the water meter should be grounded within 5 ft of the meter my meter goes about 20 ft and then is hooked up in the electrical panel to the neutral buss. could this be the problem.

This is kind of confusing. I think you are saying meter when you want to say pipe in a few places.

Yes, the water pipe is supposed to be connected (bonded) to the neutral/ground buss in the main panel.
IF the pipe is metallic and in contact with the earth for 10' or more outside then yes, it is supposed to be connected within 5' of where the pipe enters.
If this is so then there is a problem likely on the neutral as MA stated, and the connection to the pipe is carrying current. This current is trying to get back to the source (the utility transformer) and is using the earth as a path. Thing is, the earth is a very poor conductor so no breaker will trip even with the stray current.

PLEASE call a qualified electrician or your power company. The problem could even be at a neighbor's house.

[donf]

Take a look at your pluming again. Look for a section of PVC pipe.

If you find it, then place a jumper wire from one side of the metal pipe to the other.