Floor vent in shower- electrocution?

[Svenn]

I really want to put a floor vent fan in the custom shower enclosure I built, and I got 4" marine-grade duct fans, a 90 degree 4" pipe elbow, and louvered vent hole cover; (so everything sits above floor level).  But it's still gonna have water spraying directly on it, and I guess I'm worried that a situation might arise where a stream of water trickles down, touches a wire that's somehow frayed, and then I get electrocuted.  Is it a real danger?  Everything is plastic so doesn't conduct well right?; I presume it'd be pretty unlikely an unbroken stream of water would get through the 90 degree elbow and come in contact with my skin.

 

[GotSmart]

:huh:

I think I missed something.  Can you word that differently?  

I presume it'd be pretty unlikely an unbroken stream of water would get through the 90 degree elbow and come in contact with my skin.

 

[tx2sturgis]

I assume this blower will be pushing air INTO the shower?

Otherwise it will be inhaling splashing water droplets from the floor...have you heard it running? If it is an Atwood bilge blower or similar, those things are pretty loud. Mine has exposed terminals on the motor...and you can actually see the brushes and commutator....

Electricity and water don't usually mix very well.

They are meant to move air, not fountains of water....I'd rethink this if I were you.

 

[Svenn]

:huh:

I think I missed something.  Can you word that differently?  

The floor of the shower has this (vertical, rotated 90 degrees from this pic):

with this on top of it:

and this at the opening:

It points away from the direction shower water will spray.

There are wires in the fan, what I meant was that I think I can only get electrocuted if, by chance one of the wires became frayed, an unbroken stream of water would have to touch it then me.  


the only alternative is to mount the fan somewhere else in the vehicle and run a duct pipe to the shower... I don't really have enough room for that but I could try I guess...

 

[gargoyle]

Turn the fan OFF while using the shower.
The bilge fan is designed for wet area use and is sealed for that purpose. But for safety's sake I would leave the fan off if the chance of contact were possible. Once you are done in the shower, let the fan run to expel the moist air.

Seems to me the fan should not be that close the water. Is the fan exhausting to the outside?

 

[tx2sturgis]

Are you mounting the blower IN the shower, or just outside of it?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I have never heard of a documented case of a 12 volt electrocution. Seems like a very low chance of happening if at all.

It ain't the voltage, it's the amperage.  And it's surprising how little amps are needed.

https://www.thespruce.com/amperage-not-voltage-kills-1152476

For the record, it sounds to me like the original poster is angling for a Darwin Award.

 

[GotSmart]

Those units are made to remove air, not push it in.  

Hot air rises, so the inlet should be as high as possible.  The fan and wires will be in a dry area, somewhere in the duct pipeing. 

No fan is needed to bring in air at the floor level.  Just be sure to be able to seal it when driving.  (Exhaust fumes)

 

[highdesertranger]

I have never heard of anybody getting electrocuted from 12v. you can grab both terminals of a 12v battery and feel nothing. highdesertranger

 

[dr_nelson]

I have never heard of anybody getting electrocuted from 12v.  you can grab both terminals of a 12v battery and feel nothing.  highdesertranger

Sorry for off-topic, but here is where my electrical noobishness comes into play. If I put a wrench between positive and negative, I heard it could melt and be welded forever with the battery. Why am I not being "welded" when grabbing the terminals by hand?

@Svenn, why exactly do you really want a floor vent? Just trying to understand your reasons...

 

[tx2sturgis]

You can get a tingly little shock by sticking your tongue on the top of a 9v battery, it just depends on the conductivity of the skin.

Dry skin is not affected much by low voltage, wet skin IS.

I doubt 12 volts is enough to kill anyone...normally...but why take the chance in a wet environment?

Very recently a 14 year old girl was electrocuted by her cellphone and charger in the tub....this happened in a town not too far away from where I live.

Of course, we don't know, really, if it was 5 volts or 120 that did it, but something happened.

The tub is grounded, she was in the tub filled with water, and she grabbed or touched the phone or charger.

Sad. And preventable.


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-teen-electrocuted-after-cell-phone-falls-into-bathtub/

 

[itsmeagain]

Couldn't be any worse than one of those Costa Rican "suicide showers", right?      -  :huh: :exclamation: :idea:
[video=youtube]

 

[deadwood]

What is the reason for the vent? Is it to exhaust moist air while showering or is it used as a typical floor vent to bring in fresh air which then gets sucked out of a roof fan. I would think there is a better place then in the floor of the shower for an electric fan. Even one that is made for a boat. I would never relax using the shower knowing something could always go wrong. The reward doesn't seem to justify the risk.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Couldn't be any worse than one of those Costa Rican "suicide showers", right?      -  :huh: :exclamation: :idea:

I saw the arc flash under the plastic....that would worry me!


But, just put a GFI unit in line...hey, what could go wrong?


:dodgy:

 

[itsmeagain]

I saw the arc flash under the plastic....that would worry me!


But, just put a GFI unit in line...hey, what could go wrong?


:dodgy:

arc flash??    Oh, you mean the 'confirmation light'   
Don't worry..  it only 'confirms' when your hands are wet from the shower..

:crazy:

 

[jonyjoe303]

The only problem I see is getting water in the fan motor and shorting it out. The water might or might not affect it. The 12 volt fans (radiator fans) that might encounter water are usually sealed so if they get splashed with water it won't do any damage.

 

[DLTooley]

Not sure of the product you are using, but I'd consider the whole design and placement of a typical residential bathroom fan. They are designed to move moist air.