Outdoor plugs need TLC
30.07.2008 03:00
Home
- Source: Home Envy
Most Canadian homes have at least one outdoor electrical outlet, but what's easy to overlook is the fact that so many are in poor condition. So-called weatherproof covers are often broken or missing and internal corrosion of wires and contacts is far more widespread than you might think. And if ordinary neglect weren't reason enough to be concerned, the design of some outdoor plug covers is at least partially to blame for this situation. A backyard outlet I installed at my house ten years ago is a case in point. There are two features that separate code-compliant outdoor outlets from interior ones: a weatherproof cover to keep rain and snow from corroding sensitive electrical parts, and a special shock-protection device called a GFCI - ground fault circuit interrupter. GFCIs are required by code in locations where shock hazards are particularly high because of potentially wet conditions. All GFCI devices are designed to sense the slightest movement of electricity to ground, shutting off the flow of power in milliseconds whenever they do. Electrical flow to ground is the condition most likely to happen as a person begins to receive a shock, and this is what GFCIs are design to sense and stop. GFCI protection can be provided by a special plug outlet in an outdoor location, or by similar devices installed indoors but still connected to your outdoor circuit. All of these technical details are important because they save lives, at least when they're working properly. But for outdoor plugs to be safe they need protection from the weather. Water and electricity don't mix. And I know from experience that some specific types of outdoor outlet covers keep water out much better than others. Next time you're in the electrical section of a hardware store, take a look at plastic outdoor plug covers. They're usually grey in colour and all designs include some type of flap door to keep water out of outlet openings. Trouble is, not all covers work well. And, as I've discovered, it comes down to how many screws are used to secure the cover. When I installed an outdoor outlet at my house in 1996, I bought a kit that included everything required: a weatherproof electrical box, a weatherproof cover with spring-loaded doors, plus all the gaskets that were supposed to keep water out of the box. But even as I put this stuff together, I noticed something disappointing. The plug cover itself was held in place by just a single screw in the middle. This was supposed to draw the whole cover in tight to the box to seal the edges, but it didn't work. It couldn't. The plastic cover was flexible enough that it didn't seal with enough force around the perimeter of the box, secured as it was with just one screw in the middle. I tried to convince myself that everything would be okay, despite appearances, but I kept an eye on the situation anyway. And, as it turned out, my fears of water leaks were completely realistic. As rainwater slowly leaked behind the ill-designed cover, it caused corrosion of wires and plug contacts inside the box within the first couple of years. Replacement with a different style of outdoor cover solved the problem completely. Single-screw outdoor plug covers are still sold today and they're still just as iffy. But they're also not the only ones available. A much better design of cover uses four mounting screws (one at each corner), and a hinged door that doesn't require gaskets to seal out moisture. It flips up vertically during use, then falls closed under gravity when you're done, shedding water without the need for gaskets or spring pressure. An effective outdoor plug cover might seem too insignificant to worry about, but don't be fooled. It's in details like these that good home stewardship is won or lost.
| 
Add comment