What do you do if you spill water on an extension cord?
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What do you do if you spill water on an extension cord?
What to do if water gets into the extension cord?
- Step 1: Disconnect from the power source immediately. If your extension cord was plugged in when it got wet, you must disconnect from the power source ASAP.
- Step 2: Dry the extension cord thoroughly.
- Step 3: When in doubt, let a technician check.
Can you use an extension cord after it got wet?
Extension cords get wet. However, you can use them afterward if you take the proper precaution. You don’t have as much to worry about if the water only touched the plastic and rubber sections. Things become far more complicated if the plug becomes wet or if the liquid enters the outlets on the extension cord.
How do you dry an extension cord?
Assuming you mean the end got wet, then 90\% of the time it will dry out overnight and be as good as gold. Leave it somewhere warm like on top of a hot water cylinder where the leakage heat from the hot water will help dry it out. It really doesn’t take a lot of heat for the moisture to evaporate.
What happens if I spill water on my power strip?
Sure you may get sparks, but not much more. But if you spill a lot of water, or dirty water on a power strip you will get a short, which will blow the fuse or breaker attached to the circuit. And if you have a GFI outlet in the circuit, that will fire also, and cause the circuit to shut down.
Can water in an extension cord cause a fire?
Yes, but it’s usually because of faulty or old appliances, as fires can also originate from cords, receptacles and switches. As a matter of fact, even if you tried to remove the grounding plug from a cord to create a two-prong outlet, it can also start a fire.
Are outdoor extension cords waterproof?
So long as the cord is on a GFCI circuit, then it may be left in the rain without danger. Rainwater generally does not conduct electricity. If there is a problem, the GFCI or the branch circuit breaker provides protection. You should disconnect them from the house, which by code must be a GFCI.
How do you unplug a wet extension cord?
If you know which circuit the outlet is on you can turn off just that breaker. The nuclear option is to go to the main breaker and shut that off. After the power is shut off you can safely unplug the extension cord and then turn the chosen shutoff back on.
How often do extension cords catch fire?
Roughly 3,300 home fires originate in extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring 270 more. Extension cords can overheat and cause fires when used improperly, so keep these important tips in mind to protect your home and workplace.