Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board

Lesson: Don't rely on GFCI plugs

Posted By: Rawleigh
Date: Thursday, 28 April 2005, at 5:13 p.m.

I went down to my boat last night to find that a raccoon had dropped an extension cord overboard that had been coiled on the wall of the boathouse. The cord was plugged in and the end was fried. I had never had that happen before as the GFCI plug had always kicked. I checked the plug and though it looked perfect, the test plug would not depress, even when I pressed it with a pair of pliers!! The circuits in my boathouse that go to boatlifts or other circuits not downstream of a GFCI plug are on GFCI circuit breakers. To keep the cost down I had used GFCI plugs instead of breakers on the plug circuits. All of the other plugs functioned properly when I tested them. The problem wa just in that one plug. I have a fully enclosed boathouse with a door. The wiring was all above water during the hurricane and tested out OK after that. I am now going to change to all GFCI breakers since I don't trust the plugs anymore!!! If that had been me holding the cord when I fell overboard I would have been fried!! The moral is CHECK THOSE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS!!! Just because it looks like new doesn't mean that it works after being exposed to the marine environment. It was a learning experience. Be careful. Rawleigh, the Shocked!!

Messages In This Thread

Lesson: Don't rely on GFCI plugs
Rawleigh -- Thursday, 28 April 2005, at 5:13 p.m.

Re: Lesson: Don't rely on GFCI plugs
Mike Kennedy -- Thursday, 28 April 2005, at 5:35 p.m.

Re: Lesson: Don't rely on GFCI plugs
Rawleigh -- Thursday, 28 April 2005, at 5:38 p.m.

Re: Lesson: Don't rely on GFCI plugs
Vic Roy -- Thursday, 28 April 2005, at 6:18 p.m.