Poking metal object into "ground" of hot electrical outlet...

[Black88GTA]

I just moved into a place, and the retard that was here before me slapped at least 5 coats of paint on the walls - and didn't tape over the electrical outlets :|. So now, half of them are covered with thick dried paint. Most are usable, but one has the ground (round hole) partially covered with paint, and I can't plug my surge trap in there without clearing some of it out first.

Can I put a metal screwdriver in there and clear out some of the paint? Or is this not smart? Obviously I know not to stick metal in the flat blade parts of the socket , but I wasn't sure if the ground part was safe or not. Anyone know?

 

[Kalvin00]

You could turn off the electricity at the breaker for true safety..

 

[Transition]

OR he could just stick the screwdriver in and tell us what happens. But really, turn off power on the breaker in that area of your home and CONFIRM there is no power in the outlet before messing around.

 

[Eli]

lol, you can stick a screwdriver into the ground terminal without worry.

 

[creedog]

Yes, ITS THE GROUND!!

 

[Black88GTA]

I thought of that...but my "apartment" is technically the upstairs floor of a house. The people I share the house with are gone, and their portion of the house is locked up. They have the access to the breakers . Besides, even if I could get to them, I wouldn't want to start shutting stuff off without telling them, in case they have alarm clocks or the like on the circuit that would be reset.

 

[Black88GTA]

OK....I figured that it would be allright, but wasn't sure. I don't pretend to know a lot about house wiring so I figured I"d ask here before frying myself. Thanks guys...

 

[Crusty]

Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!

 

[TechnoKid]

You'd better hope theres no leaking current on the ground.

 

[Sunner]

It should be ok, but hey, you never know, someone might have done some crappy wiring or something.
I wouldn't mess with it unless I knew for sure it was ok.

 

[TitanDiddly]

Just replace the outlet. They cost like $1.

 

[Black88GTA]

Already done . 10 seconds with a screwdriver and the plug was good to go. I only poked the edge in - just enough to get behind the paint. I don't think it even touched the metal contact.

 

[HappyPuppy]

I am not going to answer your question but I will ask another.

Since you have a screwdriver, why don't you just unscrew the one screw that holds the cover plate on, remove and clean it, then reattach it? Huh? Huh? Why dontcha?

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Originally posted by: TechnoKid
You'd better hope theres no leaking current on the ground.

But wouldn't that already be flowing back the Neutral already? (assuming that the ground and Nuetral were properly bonded)
The only way that would affect him anyway is if he proved a better path to true ground than the house wiring which is highly unlikely. But it's not like a little jolt from an outlet killed too many people

CsG

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I am not going to answer your question but I will ask another.

Since you have a screwdriver, why don't you just unscrew the one screw that holds the cover plate on, remove and clean it, then reattach it? Huh? Huh? Why dontcha?

Cause the cover plate isn't the problem, it's the receptacle itself that had the paint on/in it. Plus, the screw holding the plate in place is covered up and cemented in with - you guessed it - a whole bunch of paint.

 

[Nitemare]

Originally posted by: Eli
lol, you can stick a screwdriver into the ground terminal without worry.

Just hope it was wired properly, if not can I have your TV?

 

[seanws]

you live in the upper part of a hoiuse and dont have ytour own breaker panel? what do you do if you pop a breaker and the people downstairs are in mexico for two months? wait until they get back?

 

[OverVolt]

i wouldn't trust ATOT with your life......

 

[Quasmo]

I used to stick paper (folded 8x11 sheets) into the sockets at school. It was funny cause it would freak the teacher out.

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: creedog
Yes, ITS THE GROUND!!

 

[neonerd]

i did this in school a few years back...stuck a screw driver in there

shorted out the electricity in the entire left side of the hallway

 

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I am not going to answer your question but I will ask another.

Since you have a screwdriver, why don't you just unscrew the one screw that holds the cover plate on, remove and clean it, then reattach it? Huh? Huh? Why dontcha?

Cuz THIS != THIS

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: troytime

Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
I am not going to answer your question but I will ask another.

Since you have a screwdriver, why don't you just unscrew the one screw that holds the cover plate on, remove and clean it, then reattach it? Huh? Huh? Why dontcha?

Cuz THIS != THIS

Ahahaha!

 

[jagec]

Should be safe. If it's hot, you're still holding the PLASTIC end of the screwdriver, so you're still safe. If you're not holding the plastic end of the screwdriver, it's still only 110VAC, which isn't really that bad.

 

[TechnoKid]

Originally posted by: jagec
Should be safe. If it's hot, you're still holding the PLASTIC end of the screwdriver, so you're still safe. If you're not holding the plastic end of the screwdriver, it's still only 110VAC, which isn't really that bad.

depends what his potential to ground is. If he is standing on very dry ground, he will recieve little shock, if hes standing in water or a puddle or somthing, he will likely die.