Would you get a 240volt shock if you touch the heating element inside a toaster with a metal cutlery knife?

Question

If its plugged in to mains. Thx.

I got smacked hard as a little kid whilst digging out a crumpet from toaster, and told it was dangerous.

My question was designed to find out how vigilant I have to be to make my own kids realise the dangers.

Almost immediately some interesting answers - thanks.

Answer 1

Let say first of to all those in the usa.
this is a uk site and the voltages here are different to yours.
YES you can get 240 Volts from a toaster element.
YES it can kill you.
DON'T ever do it when the toaster is plugged in.
IGNORE the other answers.
I AM an expert.
If toast is stuck inside your toaster, turn it off before meddling with it.

Answer 2

What I find most scary about this question is the diversity of the answers!!!

The element in most toasters is a bare electric wire carrying 240 volts in the UK and around 110 volts in the rest of Europe/US. If you put anything metallic in the toaster while it is plugged in you stand the risk of doing one of two things. Either the metal object could short from the element to the chassis (casing) of the toaster in which case you will probably blow a fuse or trip a cicuit breaker or it could earth through you - in other words you get an electric shock, which will be mains voltage whatever that happens to be where you live. Not recommended!! So, as somebody suggested - use something that does not conduct electricity but better still unplug the thing - its not that difficult. Regards. N

Answer 3

If you are in the uk and you touch the element of a plugged in toaster with anything metal, AND you are in contact with earthed metalwork, (eg. metal toaster body, metal sink unit, metal electric kettle, etc) Then YES you will get a 240volt shock, which will PROBABLY make you jump back. If you have a 30ma. RCD protecting the circuit you will feel nothing as it will trip instantly. IF your knife is in contact with the metal toaster and the element at the same time you will blow the fuse in the plug or trip the circuit breaker or poss. both. I suggest that you don't try this to find out.

IGNORE ALL THESE ANSWER FROM THE US WHO INSIST THAT WE HAVE 110 VOLTS IN THE UK. I WISH THEY WOULD STOP ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON UK ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THEY HAVE SYSTEMS, WIRING COLOURS, REGULATION AND TERMINOLOGY WHICH IS SO DIFFERENT FROM OURS THAT SOMEONE WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE THEIR ADVICE AND DIE!!

Answer 4

I don't know what voltage it was but I did exactly that when I was a kid and I got the shock of a lifetime! It was the only time I was ever shocked! I was using a butter knife to dig out a piece of bread from the toaster while it was on. (Gimme a break, I was only 8!)...and I am from the USA.

Answer 5

who ever wrote the 110v answer must be a builder as 110 is only used is drawing equipment, constantly used which would be a commercial or work site place, presumably you are talking about a standard toaster?
If yes, you would get electrocuted if using a metal object but you would have to cross the heating the element with the outside/frame of the toaster or be touching something else which may be earthed (like grass/mud(techinal stuff if you want details). If you wore rubber soles or only touched the heating element it is likely you would get a nasty shock but nothing deadly.
If you have an rcd in the house this would also protect you reducing the shock time you would experience to less than 30 milli seconds.
I can fit all this for £xxx pls call xxxxxx ;)

Answer 6

The highest shock that you can get from a toaster is 110volts because they don't have toasters that plug into 220 or 240 volts (unless you live outside of the US). You can get a shock if the toaster is on and it will definately suck. I'd recommend that you follow your parents instructions and avoid sticking the knife in the toaster.

Answer 7

Actually, it's not the voltage you have to worry about. It is the number of amps that would enter your body. 0.1 Amps can kill certain people. Household electricity is 120V (15 Amps) in the US, or 220V (30 Amps) in Europe. If your metal cutlery knife has a plastic handle, you should be fine, since it is grounded, but don't touch the blade. Also, they make wooden tongs for reaching into toasters, so if you have dropped something in, you can still retrieve it.

Answer 8

get the kid in the kitchen and say now brats dont do this then stick the metal knife in the toaster and get the shock of your life
if you survive say that was painful if you dont survive thy will get the message.might even get something nice with the insurance

Answer 9

Not the heating element itself but the leads maybe. first of all unplug the toaster before you go digging around. Make sure your hands are not wet.

Answer 10

No, you won't get a shock from the element itself. However, do not touch any wire or wires going to either end of the heating element. They are most likely insulated but they may not be. That is where you will get jolted but not the element itself.