Note to the moderators, I am taking a chance that you will allow this as a bit of fun and not delete it, although I will understand if you do.
This came up in discussion while out with friends last night. You will have seen in films or read in crime stories where someone gets electrocuted while in the bath because someone throws an electric toaster or electric fire into the bath. I don't think doing so would electrocute the person in the bath.
Discuss.
I'd view the death as suspicious - who the Hell keeps a toaster in the bathroom?
In older plumbing systems where all the piping was metal and connected to GND and the bath itself was made from steel the bath and taps (faucets for those on the other side) would probably be an effective electrical path.
I would not like to be caught in the middle - but neither would I choose it as an effective means of suicide.
The effectiveness of electrocution (if effectiveness is the right word) seems to vary a lot - even the evil electric-chair does not seem to be guaranteed to work. At other times electricity can be all too deadly.
...R
Around 15 minutes in the toaster drops and the dummy dies.
the piping (metal) is still connected to ground in modern homes, as it should be. Hopefully if a powered device fell into the water the bonded water and conduit would provide a low enough current path to ground, tripping the breaker. That’s not foolproof by any means (and there are many instances of death each year). Also, bathrooms nowadays require rcd/gfci protection that would work...
Qdeathstar:
the piping (metal) is still connected to ground in modern homes, as it should be.
Indeed. But plastic piping is very common and it can't provide a GND connection. To be honest the plastic stuff is so convenient it is hard to know why copper would be used.
...R
Copper has antibacterial properties
AWOL:
Copper has antibacterial properties
I doubt if that matters to the plumbers - they probably wear gloves.
...R
AWOL:
Copper has antibacterial properties
It does! I wonder if the introduction of plastic pipe to replace copper will result in an increase in water borne infections.
Also, I have seen it suggested that having as many copper or copper containing (brass) surfaces in hospitals would go a long way to cutting hospital acquired infections; for example, brass door handles and finger plates, taps with brass knobs, brass plates on hospital beds and trolleys where they touched to move them.
But hold on, can you make toast will sitting in a full tub of water.
Is there a way to keep this toast from getting soggy as you butter it sitting in the full tub?
Now what about a George Foreman Grill, is this safer than a toaster?
Robin2:
Indeed. But plastic piping is very common and it can't provide a GND connection. To be honest the plastic stuff is so convenient it is hard to know why copper would be used....R
We paid $500 extra to get copper pipes when we built our house.
All the other homes in our community have plastic piping.
The community is 25 years old.
5 years ago it was found out that the plastic piping was failing as the chlorine in the water was eating holes on the plastic.
People have to rip the gyproc walls and ceilings to re-plumb.
Also many homes have had crimping fail as the plastic flows in time, then these connections come apart.
Out neighbor had both happen, was away shopping at the time a crimp failed, water caused over $100,000 damage.
Did I mention we paid $500 for copper upgrade.
PS
Hard water easily provides a ground.
larryd:
We paid $500 extra to get copper pipes when we built our house.All the other homes in our community have plastic piping.
The community is 25 years old.
5 years ago it was found out that the plastic piping was failing as the chlorine in the water was eating holes on the plastic.
People have to rip the gyproc walls and ceilings to re-plumb.
Also many homes have had crimping fail as the plastic flows in time, then these connections come apart.
Out neighbor had both happen, was away shopping at the time a crimp failed, water caused over $100,000 damage.
Did I mention we paid $500 for copper upgrade.
Remind me not to show this to my brother; he's just finished a complete refurbishment on a house he and his wife bought a couple of years ago for their retirement. He installed all copper pipes. I said he didn't need to, modern plastic pipes are fine. I have mostly plastic pipes in my house, I would not want my brother to have the last laugh! 
groundFungus:
Mythbusters did that.Around 15 minutes in the toaster drops and the dummy dies.
Interesting. I note they made a big thing about the drain being earthed. Modern drain pipe is plastic, modern baths do not therefore have earths to their drains.
I used to play with carbon arcs made from dry-cell cores and a “salt water rheostat”, direct off wall AC (110v.) Ahh, those lovely 60s “science experiments for kids” books...
@PerryBebbington did not mention that there was salt water in the bath 
But maybe you need that if you have unsalted butter on the toast?
...R
westfw:
I used to play with carbon arcs made from dry-cell cores and a “salt water rheostat”, direct off wall AC (110v.) Ahh, those lovely 60s “science experiments for kids” books...
Well you Americans with your namby-pamby 110V mains! How is anyone supposed to have a seriously interesting accident with such a pathetic mains voltage? Over here we have the proper stuff, my supply is around 250V, you can get proper injuries with that!
Dad had a motor generator set, which comprised a 1/3HP motor coupled to a car generator (note generator, not alternator), which he built for charging vehicle batteries. Great for powering model trains, great for drawing big arcs from carbon rods out of batteries. It didn't seem to object too much to the output being shorted out. Oh, and none of that silly H&S nonsense, there was no guard over the drive shaft, in fact the drive shaft worked well as a carrying handle.
Salt appears in the water when electricity starts to flow through the body.
PerryBebbington:
...Dad had a motor generator set, which comprised a 1/3HP motor coupled to a car generator (note generator, not alternator), which he built for charging vehicle batteries. Great for powering model trains, great for drawing big arcs from carbon rods out of batteries. It didn't seem to object too much to the output being shorted out. Oh, and none of that silly H&S nonsense, there was no guard over the drive shaft, in fact the drive shaft worked well as a carrying handle.
My father's tool chest was full of ancient torture instruments. I remember when I was small, being so scared of his drill - the one that spit fire out the sides while it ran. It was really sparks from the barely insulated brushed motor.
ChrisTenone:
My father's tool chest was full of ancient torture instruments. I remember when I was small, being so scared of his drill - the one that spit fire out the sides while it ran. It was really sparks from the barely insulated brushed motor.
That sounds like ring fire, caused by carbon build up on the commutator (I so I was led to believe), nothing to do with eating too many chilies.
I made this in my youth too.
http://www.alloyavenue.com/vb/showthread.php?6256-popular-mechanics-small-electric-arc-furnace
