As a master electrician licensed in two states I don't think I could be called a "nervous Nellie" about electricity. I am well aware of the dangers and how to prevent problems.
Standing in water and being part of an electrical circuit is not a good idea. If you are going to be using electricity around water or anywhere outside, you should be protected by ground fault circuit interrupters. This is a safety device designed to stop current flow before your heart stops. It only takes approximately five milliamperes (5/1,000 of an ampere) to kill you, and that is a very small amount of current. A normal 20 amp circuit breaker will pass many times that amount (about 4,000 times) without tripping. A GFCI device will stop the current flow below that level. GFCI is not just a code requirement, it is an excellent idea!
GFCI devices come in several forms, including ones that can be plugged into a receptacle and have an outlet for your extension cord. Other forms are special circuit breakers to protect a whole circuit, and special receptacles. Any outside receptacles should be either GFCI type or connected to a GFCI circuit. None of these are very expensive. Here is one example, only $17 to save your life. The ones at Home Base are a little more expensive, but you can have one today without waiting for shipping.
The way they work is by measuring the current going out the hot wire and comparing it to the current coming back through the neutral wire. If there is a difference then there is a fault and current is going "elsewhere", maybe through your body. The GFCI will turn the power off instantly.
As far as cables and cords lying around in water puddles, if you are using the right cable or cord without splices or damage, you should have no problems. The danger points are where the conductors (wires) are not insulated, like splices and connections. Cord caps and receptacles are usually not waterproof and should be kept out of the water, as has been mentioned several times by others. Type UF cable is rated for exposure to sunlight and has a fairly durable sheath. It comes in several gauges, including #12 which is rated for a 20 ampere circuit. It is a common building material and relatively cheap. Several other types of cable and cords are OK for this application, but many are not suitable and some are hazardous around water.
Several list members are qualified in electrical work, so if you have questions just ask and you shall receive. We certainly don't want to lose any of our list members due to lack of knowledge about a technical field. It has been said that each article in the NEC was written after a death due to electricity, and it is a thick book. Err on the side of safety - electrocution is not fun.
spaceman
JUDITH WILLIAMS wrote:
I didn't mean to imply that electricity is harmless. I am very careful about it myself.
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