I live in Australia, with three-prong 240v power supply including ground prong. I own a simple plug adapter that does not include the ground connection. As far as I'm aware, using any appliance with this plug removes the safety of the ground protection, but should not have any further effects on the appliance. Instead, if I use this adapter with any of my appliances (washing machine, air compressor, etc) the chassis of the appliance becomes energised. By this I mean that I get a strong shock if I touch the chassis. Also, my proximity voltage detector and neon testing screwdriver light up when touching the chassis. My multimeter detects 0.3v running through the chassis (by the suggested method of touching one probe to the chassis and holding the other probe in my hand) Just touching both probes to chassis and trying all settings on multimeter gives infinite "1" result.
What is going on here? How serious is this problem?
Notes:
1. Yes, this is a follow-up to a previous question asked.
2. Yes, I have booked an electrician to come out, but it is always good to investigate yourself so that I can make sure that the electrician addresses the problem correctly. Also, I want to know if it's even safe for me to be in my house and use my appliances in the meantime.
Best Answer
It is unlikely that the chassis is getting "energized" for multiple reasons. First of all, if it was grounded the breaker would trip. Secondly, the power draw of a washing machine would be very dangerous if you touched it. Also, the design of such devices is done to make such accidents rare, otherwise the manufacturers would be facing hundreds of lawsuits. That you see the same thing in multiple appliances makes it improbable that it is current leak. (What is the probability that ALL your appliances have a dangerous current leak? Negligible.)
If you are convinced there is a current leak, it is easy to test. Just touch one end of a voltmeter to the "energized" chassis and the other to a ground. If it reads 240 volts, its energized. According to another post the OP apparently did this test and it turned out negative, confirming there is no hot chassis here, it is static electricity.
The shock is probably due to static electricity. Both washing machines and air compressors will build up very strong static electricity charges due to rotary motion. If this is not discharged by a ground, static electricity will accumulate and charge up any metal on the device. You also see this same effect on cheap, ungrounded shop vac-type vacuum cleaners.