Would a radio put into a swimming pool shock someone?

Question

I know this question sounds horrible, but I'm writing a murder mystery. If someone put a radio into a swimming pool, would it shock someone in the pool enough to kill her? And would it be possible for the killer to pull the radio out by standing on something rubber? Could it possibly look like the victim was killed by lightning? Thank you.

Answer 1

Yes, if the house was not protected with an earth leakage breaker, and the radio was mains operated. Obviously a battery one would not do.

If you knock your hi-fi into the water then the best thing to do is switch off the power by pulling out the plug with a *dry* hand. A doctor probably couldn't tell the difference between heart failure caused by lightning or electric swimming pool.

Answer 2

If the person in the tub were to catch the radio (keep it above the water level so he would become the conductor to the water), AND the plumbing of the house were copper (conductor) AND the plumbing system were well grounded, then the current from the radio could possibly travel from the radio chassis and through the human to ground.
IF the current restriction device (fuse or circuit breaker) were large enough, then the result could be damaging.
A few years ago, a major manufacturer of circuit breakers was run out of business from lawsuits arising from this type of happening, where a worker was staring at a full current arc for a full minute, and the breaker, didn't.
To my knowledge, the number of persons murdered in this manner is zero. Don't try this at home.

Answer 3

If you were to bypass the safety devices, one thing that would happen is that the wiring in the house would start to heat up enough to possibly start a fire. The greatest portion of the electrical current will flow through the element with the least resistance. If your victim was holding the radio, he could get zapped, if he is at the opposite end of the pool, he might feel a tingle.

A person electrocuted in a pool of water would not be burned like a person struck by lightning.

Another thing to consider is that, contrary to popular belief, pure water does not conduct electricity. In order to pass electricity through water, it must contain electrolites, like salt, or pool chlorine.
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Answer 4

It's fiction and sounds plausible, so don't sweat the details.
If you're planning to waste some-one that way, it's a maybe.

Answer 5

No it would not because the curcit that the radio was plugged into would short out....