On: Why is there a voltage on my HDMI and coaxial cabl...

[flandish]

> newly modified electrical

Anecdotally, as a firefighter for almost 20 years, the ones in my area have been overloading of old wiring, or stupidity. (Jamming a breaker open, etc.)

[londons_explore → flandish]

I wonder where you live if one can jam a breaker...

All the breakers round me have a mechanism so you cannot hold them 'on'. Sure, the bit in your hand will be pointing towards on, but the electrical switch internally trips and flips to off.

[flandish → londons_explore]

I have seen them jammed. Replaced with straight wire, etc.

Also where I live has houses that predate electricity - in my area of the northeast US, for instance. So some of the wiring is, most definitely, old.

Heck, some old fuse systems have been known to be the perfect size for coins. ;)