Home Improvement Asked on June 20, 2021
Saw a house yesterday where Christmas light installers ran an extension cord above the gutter – see the picture below. Is that safe? I ask since I keep imagining a gutter filling with snow and, generally speaking, seems like water and electricity don’t mix.
It is not terribly safe, though weaving it over/under supports as they did at least helps to make sure it won't go flying around.
Temporary installations like holiday lights are always a bit of a problem. A few things to help mitigate potential problems:
Correct answer by manassehkatz-Moving 2 Codidact on June 20, 2021
So long as the insulation on the extension cord is in good shape, this is no more or less dangerous than attaching it to the wall would have been.
Notice at the bottom of the picture where the cord comes out of the gutter? It's exposed to rain right there, too. While it may not be soaking in water, it will still get wet there. Either the insulation will protect the wiring or it won't.
Answered by FreeMan on June 20, 2021
Most cords are rated SJ at a minimum the junior hard service cord of which there are 17 variations all rated for damp locations and 1/2 include wet locations. So as long as the cord is in good shape and the end is not in the water I would not be concerned. Additional safety ? A home less than ~20 years old maybe 30 the outside circuits will be GFCI protected so even less of a problem.
Not to discount that electricity and water can be dangerous but pure water won’t conduct electricity. So in reality it’s not a big deal have you ever noticed those Christmas lights with water running over them on a metal gutter , doesn't trip the breaker or GFCI, same issue here, you will find similar wiring at my house around the holidays, the receptacles are GFCI protected
I had to prove this to a son in law . I told him to get me a bucket of water he got it out of the pool that was green at this time of year and I took a cord end and tossed it in the bucket of water ( never bet an electrician on electrical issues he had to go get beer). When he got back I pulled the cord out of the water shook it off and plugged the lights back in and they lit up.
Answered by Ed Beal on June 20, 2021
As long as the ends aren't in the gutter and you are on a GFCI - you are just as safe/unsafe as using any extension cord outside.
My issue here is that if someone yanks that cord hard your gutters may be unsafe. I can tell you have seen similar things happen. If you feel this is completely zero chance, you are all good.
Answered by DMoore on June 20, 2021
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