indoor/outdoor christmas lights

[JohnCU]

mine just shorted out and tripped a breaker

 

[Eli]

Just from rain water?

Doubt it.

 

[herm0016]

is the plug in a puddle?

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Eli
Just from rain water?

Doubt it.

they were working many days before the rain... it rains hard... just found the breaker tirpped

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: herm0016
is the plug in a puddle?

no

 

[BlackTigers]

So walk downstairs, flip the switch.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: BlackTigers
So walk downstairs, flip the switch.

everytime i flip the breaker (even after drying the plug) it keeps flipping back immediately

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: BlackTigers
So walk downstairs, flip the switch.

everytime i flip the breaker (even after drying the plug) it keeps flipping back immediately

Sounds like a GFCI circuit breaker rather than a strictly overcurrent protection device. Immediate tripping of the latter = crowbar across L1/N.

 

[imported_weadjust]

We got 7" of rain in the last 48 hours. No problems with my lights that were on during the rain.

 

[JohnCU]

Originally posted by: Rubycon

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: BlackTigers
So walk downstairs, flip the switch.

everytime i flip the breaker (even after drying the plug) it keeps flipping back immediately

Sounds like a GFCI circuit breaker rather than a strictly overcurrent protection device. Immediate tripping of the latter = crowbar across L1/N.

aka water?

 

[lokiju]

It's been raining for two days straight here and mine have been fine so far.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: JohnCU

Originally posted by: Rubycon
crowbar across L1/N.

aka water?

Rainwater won't short it out on its own. But if it runs through a "mineral rich" field it can become quite conductive and draw enough power at mains voltage to cause a fault. Seawater will definitely "spark" if splashed into outlets - especially 240 and 450V ones!

 

[JohnCU]

okay the wind has dried things out nicely, just flipped the breaker again and it didn't trip - christmas is saved. :thumbsup:

 

[GeekDrew]

Precipitation is the large Christmas display's worst nightmare. Most of the places that have "huge" or electronically controlled displays shut them down during and right after rain. There are too many problems with water getting into Christmas lights -- usually at the end plugs, not the actual lights. That, or take care to really well protect the plugs, and keep going anyway.