Can i get a shock from an exposed internet cable?

Dies to Wolves·5/8/2015, 1:06:44 AM·2 votes·19,524 views

I've got one of those generic blue internet cables like this one: http://img.dxcdn.com/productimages/sku_214001_1.jpg The blue "cover" / "cape" thingy (no idea how to call it in english), coating? Anyways, the blue cable is a bit torn in a spot, exposing the wires inside.

Is it dangerous at all? Can I get an electric shock from it? Is there even any problem with exposing this kind of wires? I'm clueless about this kind of stuff :P

thanks in advance!

11 Comments

Deep Terror Nami5/8/2015, 1:09:58 AM3 votes

Normally, no.

If you stuck one end into a power outlet somehow though, that is a different story.

There is "Power over Ethernet" (PoE), which I think is used for small modems. I don't think much voltage runs through it, you can check on the item it's plugged into.

Yatsufuså5/8/2015, 1:13:59 AM2 votes

Any exposed wire sticking out of cables can shock you. I've had numerous torn Ethernet cables before however and never been shocked once. Depends on how faulty your electricity is or if you hands are wet while handling the cables.

Or if you are wearing a suit of armor and decided to play with wires while everything is turned on during a lightning storm.

UberAffe5/8/2015, 1:15:08 AM2 votes

technically you could, there is an electric current going through it, but you would have to be trying to get shocked, at least to be shocked any worse than what you might get from rubbing your feet on the carpet.

Also, the entire thing is the "cable" the length of it is the "coat" or "sleeve" the parts you plug in are the "heads" the inside is the "wires"

LegendaryLemur5/8/2015, 1:20:24 AM2 votes

I'd suggest at least putting some duct tape/electrical tape over it (if you don't have one of those fancy sleeves you can slide over and heat up to shrink it down) just to protect the wire.

Dies to Wolves5/8/2015, 1:20:30 AM1 votes

thank you all. I thought it probably shouldn't be something I had to worry about, but eh, when the subject is electricity I always try to take extra care

that said, there shouldn't be any problem if I keep using this cable on my computer for the internet, right?

Poptart Evelynn5/8/2015, 1:46:10 AM1 votes

I'll attempt to put this in english.

There is a cover around the cable. The blue coating. This is for preventing outside signals disrupting the signals in the wire. Prevents lag.

On the wires on the inside of it they have a color coat on themselves also, this coat is to keep the signals separated and is the part that electrical flow but you are completely safe to touch the color coating of it.

Hope this helps you understand. By leaving the cable exposed you may experience more lag than normal. But you don't have to worry about getting shocked.

ElysMustache5/8/2015, 2:06:19 AM1 votes

Generally anything less than 30 volts is considered safe. This is based on the amount of current required to injure you, as well as the equation Voltage = current squared times resistance.

Resistance of the human body can be as low as about 500 ohms. So based on this, 30 volts or less I wouldn't worry about. That is the voltage level taught in the Navy (which I am in), anyway.

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_over_Ethernet#Powering_devices, ethernet voltage can be as high as 57 volts.

There is no reason to work on an ethernet cable that has exposed wires. Just unplug the cable and replace or repair it. You could simply wrap it in electrical tape and then have no worries.

EL HAMSTERO5/8/2015, 2:29:56 AM1 votes

a good way to test is to put the exposed wire in your mouth. if you feel a tingle then it has some electric running through it.