ECN Electrical Forum
Discussion Forums for Electricians, Inspectors and Related Professionals

Frank's right, the real hazard is the SE allowing water to flow into and corrode the terminations.
I did see one of these flow water into a Main breaker and start a fire in the panel..

Frank,

Sorry if this is a bit misleading. I think we're pretty much all in agreement here (also at MHE) that the main danger here is related to the entrance of water. I was trying to make a case for it being a shock hazard also under certain circumstances. This argument is undeniably very thin and would require extenuating circumstances. I was just fishing for scenarios where it might present a shock hazard to a Homeowner because that seems to be how they always perceive it. Every time I've mentioned that water could get in I hear "Can't We just tape it up?" Without the possibility of shoch hazard it may never get fixed. It would just start collecting layers of Duct Tape!


Bill

Bill,

I've seen the duct tape routine. I can understand your point.

Frank (cinkerf)

I've seen where the "noodles" were eaten almost all the way through, the surface area exposed helps speed up the corrosion.

In a 240V series circuit, the current wants to be the same throughout the circuit and therefore when Harry Homeowner panics and unplugs the sparking, smoking appliance from the wall by the #16 AWG cord with melting insulation, with reference to the neutral and ground lost, I see burn and/or electrocution to be very likely. I do understand that it takes just the right circumstances to achieve such a scenario.


[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 05-12-2001).]

and then proceeds to fix the appliances with duct tape.....