Shit. WTF.

[sparklebutch]

It's four in the morning. We're in bed. Not a soul moving in the house, even the felines are deep asleep.

There's a strange noise. And a strange smell. I get up.

Fucking electric kettle is smoking. The switch is black.

The thing was *off*. It had cold water in it. No one's touched it in two hours or so.

WTF? How did it do this?

Now I'm thinking, the next kettle can do that any time. If we leave the house, and we think everything's safe because, everything's turned off - it's not safe. I've been leaving my cats with a kettle that can burn itself without being touched.

I'm a bit scared.

Comments

[mischief5.livejournal.com]

Do your fridge and stove have big plugs with 3 prongs? If so, they're safe. Anything with 3 prongs is safe (like your computer). It's the ones with heating elements and just 2 prongs that I unplug (but not lamps, radios, tvs, etc). Hope that helps.

[sparklebutch.livejournal.com]

All things here have three. That kettle had three. Of all the electric devices we have, I think only the humidifier have two.

Like I said, things are different in different places.

[ceruleancat.livejournal.com]

Most things are grounded. TVs, computer speakers and humidifier are the only two pronged elements, and we certainly unplug the humidifier.

Thing is, the ground only helps to conduct the electric charge to the earth, to prevent electric shock when you touch an appliance. But any electric wiring can short or overheat and kill equipment and start a fire. That's the deal with electricity. That includes not only all appliances, but the lighting and any wiring in the walls. Ungrounded appliances or those with heating elements are just more dangerous.