[DoubleHelix]

I think it's a huge mistake to mess with any part of the property's infrastructure. Unless you're a licensed electrician, even minor, seemingly successful changes can lead to liability.

If I had been in your position, the first call would have been to the landlord, and the second call would have been to my insurance company. Now you'll have to explain that you modified the wiring, and you want someone else to take responsibility for the result of a condition you can't prove or discuss without exposing yourself to liability.

[paisanol69]

Originally Posted by danmitch1

Double helix ,your right but im not about to start major repairs and what i would do would be for the better .
So i got my self a volt tester and the verdict is reversed polarity.
I turned off the power and unscrewed the plug from the wall and gently pulled it out .The wires are at least 50 years old.So I gently pushed it back in and screwed it to the wall.
Not gonna mess around with wires that could break .
I checked all the plugs and not all of them are messed up ,only one plug i need for sure is .So i modified a heavy duty extension cord ,cut it ,spliced it ,reversed the wires ,attached the ground wire all using wire connectors and electrical tape and it solved the shock problem .
Only thing is now my coaxial input got damaged on my tv and transmits a snowy image .Ill have to use another input other than coaxial on the tv which will make me have to buy another videotron illico box for the bedroom and pay the 2.50 a month .
You guys think i have a case in suing the landlord for my damaged tv ?
I dont know how id proove that though.Sucks... Im Thinking of going all out now and getting an HD box :/

Originally Posted by DoubleHelix

I think it's a huge mistake to mess with any part of the property's infrastructure. Unless you're a licensed electrician, even minor, seemingly successful changes can lead to liability.

If I had been in your position, the first call would have been to the landlord, and the second call would have been to my insurance company. Now you'll have to explain that you modified the wiring, and you want someone else to take responsibility for the result of a condition you can't prove or discuss without exposing yourself to liability.

...what the OP posted, you will see that your statement does not make any sense. He/She didnt modify any of the wiring in the apartment, only their OWN PERSONAL extension cord: (which was a good solution, as long as that extension cord is only used while being plugged into that one particular outlet)

[robinofloxley]

UK electrician and ex-vid eng here.

Shocks are normal. I get mine from a booster that runs 3 TVs and a PC card in my house.
All appliances are double insulated and not grounded these days. So the voltages "float".
Of course in the States you have always been somewhat lackadaisical over proper grounding. We men work with 230V not a wimpy 110V.
Curls the hairs on your chest.

AV shocks are not dangerous, unless possibly if you have a weak heart/pacemaker.
Some people run another ground wire and solder it to their TV coaxial connectors. But that can lead to ground loop/interference problems.

Your "fuse box" is hopefully modern and will trip in a 100ms with a fault of 30mA. ie even if you grabbed a live outlet wire you would get a belt for a tenth of a second but it shouldnt kill you.
Beware of rewireable fuses and purely overcurrent breakers (to prevent fires) They take upto 5 seconds and many Amps to trip.

Under UK law we can do anything we want to Low Voltage cables.
eg TV coax. Dont annoy your neighbours in a shared apartment block though.
For mains and gas you need to be qualified.