Electrical Engineering Question [modified]
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So I have had a leaky bathroom for 4+ years, last time the landlord fixed it, I called because water was coming out of the electrical socket. Now, about 2 months later, there is a crackling sound coming from the socket, and I think water is leaking into it. I called the landlord and left a message, I also called the city and they will send an inspector sometime soon. They told me that if I see or smell smoke, to call the fire department. I'm at work, but Miss Wizardzz is home, is there any other precaution to take besides cutting the breaker to the bathroom? Can this kind of short cause a nasty fire within the wall? update: I'm not home, but Miss W is too afraid of spiders to go to the breaker switch in the basement. The crackling has stopped. Landlord is sending "electrician" now (which likely means unlicensed, non English speaking brother of their "plumber").
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.
modified on Thursday, September 1, 2011 10:27 AM
Fear of spiders, though unpleasant, is not her biggest problem right now! Edit: And if the landlord sends an "electrician" instead of an electrician to inspect, have a real one come and inspect ASAP.
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Take a seat and a beer, turn on every electrical device you may think of, and watch the show.
That is very bad advice. But funny on so many levels. :laugh:
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett
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So I have had a leaky bathroom for 4+ years, last time the landlord fixed it, I called because water was coming out of the electrical socket. Now, about 2 months later, there is a crackling sound coming from the socket, and I think water is leaking into it. I called the landlord and left a message, I also called the city and they will send an inspector sometime soon. They told me that if I see or smell smoke, to call the fire department. I'm at work, but Miss Wizardzz is home, is there any other precaution to take besides cutting the breaker to the bathroom? Can this kind of short cause a nasty fire within the wall? update: I'm not home, but Miss W is too afraid of spiders to go to the breaker switch in the basement. The crackling has stopped. Landlord is sending "electrician" now (which likely means unlicensed, non English speaking brother of their "plumber").
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.
modified on Thursday, September 1, 2011 10:27 AM
Breaker is supposed to help prevent a fire due to a short, assuming it works correctly and the wires are the correct size (a lot of assumptions)... but I wouldn't risk it. Turn off the power until it gets checked out.
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wizardzz wrote:
I called because water was coming out of the electrical socket.
Wow now there's some serious comedic material right there! I suppose that's better than water going *into* the socket? :rolleyes:
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow
I know that I have seen this on the Three Stooges, and I think that even Mr. Bean might have had it once. Good Luck with the repairs.
Steve Maier
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So I have had a leaky bathroom for 4+ years, last time the landlord fixed it, I called because water was coming out of the electrical socket. Now, about 2 months later, there is a crackling sound coming from the socket, and I think water is leaking into it. I called the landlord and left a message, I also called the city and they will send an inspector sometime soon. They told me that if I see or smell smoke, to call the fire department. I'm at work, but Miss Wizardzz is home, is there any other precaution to take besides cutting the breaker to the bathroom? Can this kind of short cause a nasty fire within the wall? update: I'm not home, but Miss W is too afraid of spiders to go to the breaker switch in the basement. The crackling has stopped. Landlord is sending "electrician" now (which likely means unlicensed, non English speaking brother of their "plumber").
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.
modified on Thursday, September 1, 2011 10:27 AM
wizardzz wrote:
Miss W is too afraid of spiders to go to the breaker switch in the basement.
Death and/or the loss of all your possessions vs. spiders. :doh:
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possibly, I know few are killed by 415v mainly because anyone using it knows that it WILL kill whilst 220v is just likely to and 110 could possibly
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
Bergholt Stuttley Johnson wrote:
possibly, I know few are killed by 415v
mainly because anyone using it knows that it WILL kill whilst 220v is just likely to and 110 could possiblyI think it's less knowledge than accessibility, most fatalities are from 110/220V because those are the only major AC voltages your average person is likely to be fiddling with. I've been told 440V is the most dangerous common US voltage because lesser ones aren't likely to kill anyone before they have a chance to escape/have someone else throw the breaker, and higher ones (>=880?) will generally throw you before a lethal amount of current flows through your body. 440 isn't enough to throw you, but will lock your muscles and fry you before a bystander can intervene.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason? Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful? --Zachris Topelius Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies. -- Sarah Hoyt
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This shit shack was built in the 1880's, mostly held up by paint, wall papers, and asbestos.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.
wizardzz wrote:
mostly held up by paint, wall papers, and asbestos
Don't forget the spider webs... very strong, very important in older houses!
Will Rogers never met me.
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Alison P wrote:
exclaimation
FTFY ( I know, the error in the edition of the error makes it even worse *gnark*).
Rage wrote:
FTFY
FTFY FFS! :rolleyes: I blame it on a lack of chocolate or other coco based products! :-D
Ali
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This shit shack was built in the 1880's, mostly held up by paint, wall papers, and asbestos.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.
You forgot to mention that the only reason it is still standing is that the woodworm are all holding hands...
Real men don't use instructions. They are only the manufacturers opinion on how to put the thing together. Manfred R. Bihy: "Looks as if OP is learning resistant."
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wizardzz wrote:
mostly held up by paint, wall papers, and asbestos
Don't forget the spider webs... very strong, very important in older houses!
Will Rogers never met me.
Stalactites and stalagmites, I can assume we have those, too.
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.
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Rage wrote:
FTFY
FTFY FFS! :rolleyes: I blame it on a lack of chocolate or other coco based products! :-D
Ali
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So I have had a leaky bathroom for 4+ years, last time the landlord fixed it, I called because water was coming out of the electrical socket. Now, about 2 months later, there is a crackling sound coming from the socket, and I think water is leaking into it. I called the landlord and left a message, I also called the city and they will send an inspector sometime soon. They told me that if I see or smell smoke, to call the fire department. I'm at work, but Miss Wizardzz is home, is there any other precaution to take besides cutting the breaker to the bathroom? Can this kind of short cause a nasty fire within the wall? update: I'm not home, but Miss W is too afraid of spiders to go to the breaker switch in the basement. The crackling has stopped. Landlord is sending "electrician" now (which likely means unlicensed, non English speaking brother of their "plumber").
"I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson My comedy.
modified on Thursday, September 1, 2011 10:27 AM
wizardzz wrote:
Landlord is sending "electrician" now (which likely means unlicensed, non English speaking brother of their "plumber").
Even though you do not own the home, your paying rent does give you certain rights. One of those being that you can request only a licensed and insured electrician do any and all electrical work. If the person that the landlord sends over is both, you'll just have to deal with it. Otherwise, find your own qualified electrican that the landlord also agree with.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"Some people are making such thorough preparation for rainy days that they aren't enjoying today's sunshine." - William Feather
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I read somewhere sometime that more people die from accidental electrocutions in the US than the UK because the lower 110V mains supply doesn't give you such a jolt.
Voltage does not actually cause the deaths but the Amps. It takes about 100mA to stop your heart. Granted Voltage and Current are proportionally connected, the fact is High Voltage does not mean death (resistance could also be very high, different wirring etc.) There are devices out there that actually run on extremly high voltages but have virtually no current capability and are therefore harmless (other than they may give you a 'shock').
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet.
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That is very bad advice. But funny on so many levels. :laugh:
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett
If it weren't for bad advice, bad ideas and folks willing to implement either, there really wouldn't be much to laugh at. Or funniest videos TV shows. :laugh:
It was broke, so I fixed it.
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Lack of chocolate ? If I read correctly below, I see that some digestive chocolates have passed away discretely in your stomach... Did you mean cocoa, or are you also a coconut fan ?
Rage wrote:
I see that some digestive chocolates have passed away discretely in your stomach...
No! He kept them all for himself, not a single digestive biscuit has arrived on my desk! Tsk, tsk! :mad:
Rage wrote:
Did you mean cocoa, or are you also a coconut fan ?
Of course I meant coco, I was thinking of a chocolate covered coconut treat type thingy ... obviously I wouldn't make another mistake, again wood I? ;)
Ali
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Breaker is supposed to help prevent a fire due to a short, assuming it works correctly and the wires are the correct size (a lot of assumptions)... but I wouldn't risk it. Turn off the power until it gets checked out.
The house is from the 19th century, and the landlord apparently sucks. By now the breaker box is more coins then actual breakers. But believe me, you my sympathy Wizz. We're trying to get out of a place like that ourselves.
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Voltage does not actually cause the deaths but the Amps. It takes about 100mA to stop your heart. Granted Voltage and Current are proportionally connected, the fact is High Voltage does not mean death (resistance could also be very high, different wirring etc.) There are devices out there that actually run on extremly high voltages but have virtually no current capability and are therefore harmless (other than they may give you a 'shock').
Computers have been intelligent for a long time now. It just so happens that the program writers are about as effective as a room full of monkeys trying to crank out a copy of Hamlet.
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I read somewhere sometime that more people die from accidental electrocutions in the US than the UK because the lower 110V mains supply doesn't give you such a jolt.
V = I*R or V / I = R If the voltage is lower, the current has to be higher and it is current that kills. The 415 stuff is 3 phase and bloody leathal. As for the original post, it is usually illegal to have power sockets etc in your bathroom. The biggest risk (unless you use the socket of course) will be fire. Hence if it crackles, call the fire brigade. I would find the ring main this is on and isolate it, I would then follow this up by slapping the landlord. Have fun, stay safe
Just racking up the postings
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Would the 60 hertz frequency (in the US) mean there is less time that the current is being applied compared to 50 herts (rest of the world?), causing less harm to a person in the path?
Anyway you look at it, you complete the path to ground, it hertz. :(
It was broke, so I fixed it.
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V = I*R or V / I = R If the voltage is lower, the current has to be higher and it is current that kills. The 415 stuff is 3 phase and bloody leathal. As for the original post, it is usually illegal to have power sockets etc in your bathroom. The biggest risk (unless you use the socket of course) will be fire. Hence if it crackles, call the fire brigade. I would find the ring main this is on and isolate it, I would then follow this up by slapping the landlord. Have fun, stay safe
Just racking up the postings
PaulPrice wrote:
If the voltage is lower, the current has to be higher and it is current that kills
Keep in mind that adding water, especially water with conductive properties (i.e. salt or other impurities increasing the conductivity) means “R” decreases and voltage staying the same, means “I” current, goes up.
It was broke, so I fixed it.
