After trying to make an old outlet safer, a homeowner's speakers shocked them when used through a power bar, even though the same speakers didn't shock them when plugged into the outlet.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit thread, the original poster said they had replaced an old two-prong outlet with a GFCI.
The discussion focused on identifying which part of the setup was responsible — the new GFCI outlet, the power bar, or the connected devices.
The homeowner said the issue showed up only when the speakers were on the power bar.
Some commenters homed in on the strip. "What happens if you plug your outlet tester into the power bar?" one wrote, while another said: "Sounds like the power bar is bad. Could also be a short in that device sending voltage through the ground to your power strip."
Commenters emphasized that GFCI protection isn't the same as having a true ground. As one person explained: "GFCI technology should keep you from dying. It doesn't keep you from being shocked."
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Others noted that a GFCI can still be appropriate with old wiring. "Installing a three-prong GFCI on old two-wire systems is actually about the only thing you can do outside of fully rewiring," one commenter wrote. That, however, does not eliminate every hazard associated with ungrounded wiring.
More background
"Sensitive electronics have filters that sink a small current to line to ground by design," one commenter said. "When grounded, you don't notice. Without a path to ground, you do."
They added that the effect can show up when several devices are on the same strip because "their grounds are tied together but not tied to Earth, so you feel the tingle in the speakers."
A bad power bar or wiring error that lets current travel where it shouldn't can create a serious safety issue and could also damage electronics.
What can be done?
To narrow down the source, commenters suggested replacing the power bar with another one; measuring the strip with an outlet tester; and using a multimeter only if the homeowner already knows how to check hot versus neutral, hot versus ground, and neutral versus ground.
Some users focused on the installation details, including whether the GFCI was wired to the correct line side and whether the mounting hardware might be contributing to grounding in a metal box. "It's funny 'cause the bottom screw I used to screw it to the wall is the only one that is different," the original poster noted.
If the shocks continued, commenters advised bringing in an electrician.
"Bro, get an electrician out there asap," one user said.
Where can I learn more?
These stories dig into the same kinds of electrical headaches, outlet mix-ups, and wiring choices that came up here.
• A homeowner found a dangerous fake outlet hidden in a house bought years earlier.
• On Reddit, a cautious homeowner faced conflicting breaker box advice after an electrician pushed upgrades.
• ConnectDER developed a device to prevent costly rewiring for home EV chargers and solar.
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