Will taking a bath with a hairdryer really cause electrocution?

CTV Reporter Elizabeth Drolet gets to the bottom of this question with Little Shop of Physics director and CSU Physics Professor, Brian Jones.

[theinsanegamer]

Not a hairdryer, but a toaster might. Try it with a toaster and see what happens.

[ebperformance]

Back then before GFI it was easy to get electrocuted. Now most bathrooms have GFI however a person can still be killed. If you hook a extension cord to a outlet and have something like a cell phone charging and drop it in the tub. There’s enough voltage to stop your heart. There has been several cases of that happening.

[EvtheNev]

This means nothing to anyone outside of the US.
We don't use plugs like that here in Ireland.

[geakerleaker]

Yeah ion got a g-force outlet so I’m ded

[shawnloop]

If he had act like she was shock it would have been golden 😂

[hyperthreaded]

Yes. It's been required by law for several decades now that all new installations be equipped with GFCIs. I'm not sure about existing ones though.

[papilloneffect]

Ok so that's not gonna work, back to square one.

[wynanddebruin]

can guarantee this guy popped a few acid pills in hes life

[steve]

In UK, most houses (now) have an RCD in the mains distribution panel. Would this prevent death? Can you change the title of this video to 'Will taking a bath with a hair dryer IN THE USA really cause electrocution' to save 100's of deaths a year.
P.S. My friend was killed by electrocution in the bath (really) in the late 1960's. He wanted to use his record player and there was no socket in his bathroom (UK regulations - only shaver sockets allowed), so he took out the ceiling light bulb whilst standing in the bath and plugged his record player in (in the dark!). His parents started to worry an hour later when he didn't appear and they had to break down the door. Electricity and water don't mix!

[Cbr_auh]

As others have said on here this video is specific to the US. I really do think they need a disclaimer saying so.

[SJFPenguin]

Throwing a hairdryer in a tank of water FOR SCIENCE! is one thing, but having a hand in that tank when the hairdryer goes in is just plain nuts. Sure, the GFCI will likely trip, but wearing a seatbelt doesn't mean you should go 110 in a 25 MPH zone. Especially with Professor Death Wish saying he had never done it before (even though he had likely tested the GFCI on the plug).

Also, if you have an old hairdryer (pre-1991), it may not have a GFCI plug, and your bathroom outlets are probably not GFCIs if they were installed before 1975.

[MirageUchiha]

Thanks for this informative video!!
I've always wanted to kno what would happens!👍🏾

[NeverTalkToCops]

The professor claims Elizabeth was grounded. No, certainly not by standing on the floor. Best to draw out these situations and determine the various paths that current can flow. If current finds a path through your body, you could be in danger.

[YTSHRTMEME]

Damn it, I have a GFI outlet...oh well time to find another way.

[JaySmitty]

Now how about one without a gfi outlet.

[ThunderMarco]

I think they should make more safe hair dryers because is a must, however, better be careful anyway.

[colorado]

I like how the girl is like, actually you are going to stick your hand in the tub.

[filiplaskovski]

Okay good cause I'm out of bath bombs! The hairdryer will do!

[chrisklest]

Without a GFCI, if you're lying in the tub and the electrical device falls in, does the electricity travel through you because you're the most conductive item in the tub and then travel from you to the metal drain? If the bathtub is plastic or ceramic, am I correct that the only path to the earth is through the metal drain? What if the electrical device falls between you and the metal drain? Wouldn't the electricity travel straight from the device to the drain?

[chompchompnomnom]

What happens if you don't use a protective plug?