Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[ChickenMathLady]

Extension cord question:
I've got a 12-gauge outdoor cord to run to the coop for the heater waterer. We got one of the cord covers for where it connects. Is there anything else you have to do for an outside extension cord to keep it safe? https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Innovat...=extension+cord+covers&qid=1604281361&sr=8-17 is what we have for the cord cover.

 

[Folly's place]

Have it on at least a GFI outlet. Having it in conduit is best. I'm not an electrician, so buried lines in conduit, per code, is definitely safest.
Mary

 

[1muttsfan]

Make sure that either it is nowhere close to where you clear snow, or that it is well marked so that nobody runs over it or catches it with a snow plow, snow blower or a shovel. It should also be placed so that you don't drive vehicles over it.

 

[ChickenMathLady]

It's behind the garage to the side of the garage so all of that should be okay @1muttsfan. I'm almost positive the outlet is gfi but I'll double check @Folly's place and see about what I could run it through. I'll talk to my Dad about seeing if he can help me get an outlet going closer to the coop (that would be better, I know) but definitely not my forte.

 

[Folly's place]

About GFI outlets: when the electrician was here this summer, he tested every outlet in our garage. One of the newer GFI outlets actually didn't function as it should, so he replaced it. He also said that he's found others, including some new from the store, that were faulty. WOW! I don't know how to test them, but ask! If it takes an electrician, that's way cheaper than a fire...
Mary

 

[aart]

About GFI outlets: when the electrician was here this summer, he tested every outlet in our garage. One of the newer GFI outlets actually didn't function as it should, so he replaced it. He also said that he's found others, including some new from the store, that were faulty. WOW! I don't know how to test them, but ask! If it takes an electrician, that's was cheaper than a fire...
Mary

There's a test button on the ones I have.......is that not really a functional test?

 

[Folly's place]

Not if the unit doesn't work, at least that's what I understood from his conversation. Maybe we just hadn't tested it recently, I'm not sure now. I'll try for better information tomorrow. It sure spooked me!
Mary

 

[aart]

Have read that the newer(?) AFCI are even better than the GFCI's

 

[Folly's place]

Heard that, but so far don't have any of those. Do you?
Mary

 

[aart]

Heard that, but so far don't have any of those. Do you?
Mary

Nope.