November 15, 2001

Check Outdoor Outlets Now, Safety Specialist Advises

Before the snow begins to accumulate is a good time to check all of your outdoor electrical outlets for proper operation, says a North Dakota State University safety specialist.

"And it isn't enough just to be getting electricity to the outlet, you need to have it there safely," says George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. "During any weather, there is always the risk of electrical shock when you mix electricity, moisture and ground."

The National Electrical Code requires residential occupancies built after January 1, 1973, to have ground fault interrupters installed on all 120 volt, single phase, 15 and 20 ampere receptacle outlets on the exterior of the building and in the garage. Maher notes that they are good protection to have in the farm shop and at all exterior outlets around the farm. OSHA requires that ground fault interrupters be installed on all 15 and 20 ampere, single phase outlet receptacles used for construction, and these requirements may be effective for some farm construction as well.

"Many ground fault interrupters can be installed as easily as a regular receptacle outlet," Maher notes. "Others may require more electrical expertise and you may want to contact an electrician for this work." Ground fault interrupters are not to be used without fuses or circuit breakers except for combination units, which are available. Other areas that need this ground fault interrupter protection are kitchen, bathroom, and basement circuits.

"Outdoor receptacle outlets should be protected with ground fault interrupters because a small electrical shock in one situation may be a lethal dose of electricity when your connection to ground is only slightly better," Maher says. "In other words, the shock you may receive without even noticing on a cold, dry day when you plug in your car could be fatal on a cool, damp day if there is a problem with the car's plug-in."

The ground fault interrupter will detect the problem and stop the flow of electricity before it affect you. After the problem has been corrected, the ground fault interrupter can be reset to resume electrical service.

"Properly installed and used, ground fault interrupters will provide good electrical protection from faulty grounding. However, they will not make up for improper wiring or all electrical accidents, so be certain that the rest of your electrical service is in good condition," Maher says.

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Source: George Maher, (701) 231-8288, gmaher@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu