>         Current flowing in an open wire? How's that?

It can certainly happen.  Last week I happened to grab
the shield of a cable leading to a servo motor.  The motor
was on, both ends of the shield were floating, and I got
one hell of a shock.  There was certainly current flowing
through that wire, from an "open" end right out through
my paw!

Not sure if that lesson is applicable here, but it is useful
to remember that current can be transferred via field.

Plus, if there WERE a connection at the top, it would
short the cap and drain off the charge some of the time,
wouldn't it?

Mike H.
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