[savedbygrace]

The only power going to a microphone should be +48V DC, referred to as phantom power. Would that kill someone? Or was there some sort of electrical failure?

[HiTech RedNeck]

I read somewhere, decades ago that the smallest voltage for which an accidental electrocution has been encountered, is somewhere around 24 volts. If the mike was fed with a 48 volt source having sufficient current capability, and maybe water dribbling off the man's hand trickled down to touch such an energized conductor, that could lead to a heart stopping zap.

[WildTurkey]

The only power going to a microphone should be +48V DC, referred to as phantom power. Would that kill someone?

It is very possible that the 120vac got onto the mike, but yes, 48vdc can kill under the right circumstances. OTOH, one can hold onto 120vac and not be hurt if one is careful.

[Issaquahking]

48 volts dc is standard telephone voltage, 90 volts AC gets you a ring. Most muni's around the country require a licensed electrician for anything overy 50 volts. What does this mean? It is normally the point people start taking power into serious consideration. Still, lot's of people think they are experts at things they know nothing about.

Now this is where it gets scary, and you have to have to have gut instinct as to the proper selection of contractors to hire...where it's not about money but credibility. Most trained electrician's are competent and credible, unfortunately we have a few that make lawyer jokes look like jokes about saints.

My gut feeling tells me there is a lot more here going on than meets the eye, but to be fair, I'd have to be part of the investigating team. My bet is that either it was wired wrong from the "last improvement" or was never rigth in the first place. Second place I'd be considering is the grounding. Just some educated guesses without being there.