Christmas Lights Outside

[Sniper82]

I don't know much about electric but when putting lighting outside ain't there a risk of getting electrocuted when it snows/rains if everything is powered on?

 

[herm0016]

not if you have outdoor rated lights. surprisingly they have thought of that!
the sockets and such are sealed enough and they are fused. you will only get a poke if you are stupid. 120v just feels like a tingle.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: Sniper82
I don't know much about electric but when putting lighting outside ain't there a risk of getting electrocuted when it snows/rains if everything is powered on?

Yep...Americans have just been lucky for the past 50 or so years...

or just maybe...(as herm0016 said) they have actually invented lights that are made to be weather resistant enough to be used outside...

Nah...you'd better stick with lucky...:roll:

 

[GeekDrew]

The bulb fixtures on strings are generally water resistant, and aren't going to cause a problem. The exposed female plug(s) on those cords, however, can pose a problem. Most people don't address the issue, and are OK, but I strongly recommend that all outdoor lighting be connected to GFCI protected circuits. Failure to do so could potentially cause fire, injury, or death (read: liability) under certain circumstances.

 

[Leros]

When it snows, you can see glowing lights underneath the snow. Thats the best.

 

[FoBoT]

no

 

[rockyct]

GFCI. The same thing that protects you from dying if a plugged in hair dryer falls in falls into the tub while your taking a bath, also prevents your Christmas lights from becoming an electrified fence if it's raining out. A GFCI compares the current flowing through the hot and the neutral. If they are not equal because current is flowing to ground (and possibly through a person), it cuts the circuit.

 

[DrPizza]

Fuses won't protect you from electrocution - the current that kills you is much much lower than what a fuse is rated for. The fuses protect against fire hazards from short circuits, not electrocution. Although, as GeekDrew pointed out, the fixtures are fairly water resistant. GFCI should be used in damp locations, including outdoor lighting, as a safety measure. (I think code now requires all outdoor outlets to be GFCI protected.)