this post was submitted on 02 Dec 2024
846 points (99.1% liked)

Funny

6993 readers
429 users here now

General rules:

Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the mods.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 weeks ago (7 children)

Didn't they change toasters so that you can't do this anymore?

[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I don't know if they changed toasters but they definitely changed building code at least in the US to require GFCI outlets in the bathroom that will shut off when a short is detected because of this.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

That's why there should also be an extension cord in the cart

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

How does this work? Does it need to be one without ground?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

even without a gfci outlet this would be a difficult way to kill yourself today's world. in theory there should be at least 3 things that would fail to prevent this. one is that most modern electronic devices have something to shut off in the event of a short. two is the gfci outlet that every bathroom is required by code to have in the majority of countries these days. three is the fuse/circuit breaker of the building itself.

now, the last one isn't going to reliably save you, but it will make it a very unreliable way to kill yourself. with all three combined it's nearly impossible.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

At least in the US, reaching inside your glovebox during a traffic stop has a much higher chance of success.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

GFCI has a switch that is tripped if there's a leak of power. It's the outlets that have a test button between the two plugs. It essentially is just an outlet with a breaker that is tripped if it's shorted so it can't cause any harm. Basically, if the incoming current isn't the same as the outgoing current, it trips and shuts off power.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (4 children)

But does using an extension cord disable this protection?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

It does if you plug it into an outlet without the protection.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

No and no one said it would

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Not if the extension cord is into the GFCI outlet. It doesn't care what's plugged in. It's similar to a circuit breaker. It doesn't care what's drawing power, only how it's being drawn.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

You can just rip off the grounding prong to bypass the protection. I keep having to fix cord ends because too many dipshits at work can't be bothered to look at the at what they're doing when they plug something in.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago

Well, not specifically for toasters. It was more about hairdryers and curling irons causing accidental electrocutions than for suicide prevention.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

No, they changed bathroom plugs. Now they have GCFIs. They have a built in test button, but there is one other way to tell...

Also they claim that the shorter cords on kitchen appliances are to prevent this but I say that's bullshit and they're just cheap.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I agree with you on the second point. They're always lying about their little schemes to squeeze more pennies out of a quarter, and think that people believe them. I'd honestly respect a company more if they just came out and said "we shortened cords to make more money. Get fucked, peasants."

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

For real. Look at Snapple and their "improved" plastic bottles.

I've bought two small kitchen appliances recently...a cheap-ass griddle, and a real nice air fryer/double oven. Both gave the same excuse for their short cords.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Maximum power cord lengths are in the NEC. Regardless of the original motivation, now it’s in the electrical code (US)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I was thinking about this today when I pulled out my Vitamix. That thing has like a 6 foot cord.

When did this get added? Or does it only apply to heating appliances? Date code on my blender is November 2020.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I thought it was older than that but I don’t know and didn’t see anything through search.

Maybe it’s just named appliances but my blender is also really short

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago

It just takes a little more ingenuity.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

That's only going to make me buy anoth... son of a bitch we been swindled.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 weeks ago

I hope not, as I always considered it a viable option for when I've had enough.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

Only one way to find out

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

It also only works with cast iron tubs. Modern ones tend to be fiberglass.