My buddy's casa just burnt down because of a "malfunction"
in the water heater !!!!!
Tony at papa hernandez,if anybody knows him ?
he's OK,but lost everything !
Think about it ! We all have our propane tanks,maybe some extra gas in storage,wd-40,etc !!!!!
KABOOM !!!!!!!
Does anybody have some suggestions/ideas about some/any sort of "fire control" ????CortezBlue - 2-21-2010 at 08:34 AM
Question??
Was it the water heater or the electrical wiring??
I have noticed in San Felipe, the local builders do not use a wire gauge even close to what is acceptable here in the USByron - 2-21-2010 at 08:45 AM
Arc Fault circuit breakerwoody with a view - 2-21-2010 at 09:02 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Byron
Arc Fault circuit breaker
aka GFCI = ground fault circuit interuptSantiago - 2-21-2010 at 09:21 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by woody in ob
Quote:
Originally posted by Byron
Arc Fault circuit breaker
aka GFCI = ground fault circuit interupt
I'm assuming this post is a recommended solution and not the item at fault?woody with a view - 2-21-2010 at 09:38 AM
the theory goes if you draw too much juice in a wet location it's probably traveling thru you to ground. without it you will burn from the inside out.
40 milliseconds later the device breaks the circuit and you survive, if it was installed, and working correctly.
edit: i'd install them on the circuit with your ELECTRIC water heater. and also if you iron your cloths, or use a blender in the shower.....
edit: i'm not an electrician, but i did sleep under the stars in Baja last week!
[Edited on 2-21-2010 by woody in ob]
[Edited on 2-21-2010 by woody in ob]BajaWarrior - 2-21-2010 at 10:16 AM
How could it be an electric water heater? There is no power at Papa Fernandez's and you wouldn't run a large generator just to support a water heater.
Edit for: Oops, papa hernandez, where is that?
[Edited on 2-21-2010 by BajaWarrior]BajaBruno - 2-21-2010 at 01:34 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by woody in ob
Quote:
Originally posted by Byron
Arc Fault circuit breaker
aka GFCI = ground fault circuit interupt
I'm sure Woody is aware, but for others who may be buying these breakers, the arc fault and the GFCI are different tools to protect against
similar, but not identical faults. The arc fault is used primarily in bedrooms to protect against broken wires that may arc and cause a fire; while
the GFCI is used around water (outdoors, garages, kitchen, bathrooms) to protect people from an intact appliance or wire that may be using you to jump
to ground (that hurts!).
As CortezB notes, Mexican electricians often undersize wire and compensate by using oversized breakers. Normal breakers are used to protect wire,
not people or appliances, so 14g wire (rated at 15amps) on a 30amp breaker is going to fry and maybe start a fire before the breaker trips. An arc
fault breaker should detect the arcing wires and trip--a GFCI maybe not, because there is not necessarily a ground fault.
The best advice is simply to use the right breaker for the wire size, without over-rating the appliance needs/requirements.
[Edited on 2-21-2010 by BajaBruno]arrowhead - 2-21-2010 at 01:43 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by woody in ob
Quote:
Originally posted by Byron
Arc Fault circuit breaker
aka GFCI = ground fault circuit interupt
Those are all but useless in Mexico, Woody. Standard Mexican wiring is just two wires with no ground. That's one of the reasons your sensitive
electronic equipment doesn't last too long. If you ever build your own home in Mexico, insist in the specs that they install a 3-wire grounded system.
And then watch them like a hawk when they install it, because the average Mexican electrician has no idea how to do it or put in a proper ground.
They'll just put in standard 3-prong plugs with no ground wire.torch - 2-21-2010 at 03:08 PM
I'm an electrician by trade and it is amazing to me the way alot of electrical circuits are run in baja. bruno is right about the specs. and arrowhead
hits it on the head. I've done a few jobs down there and when the local construction guys see my work they always ask me why I added unnecessary
wires, devices ect...DENNIS - 2-21-2010 at 03:14 PM
I've been unable to find Romex down here. Perhaps they should make it mandatory.torch - 2-21-2010 at 03:18 PM
I always take every thing down except pipe and fixturesDENNIS - 2-21-2010 at 03:54 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by torch
I always take every thing down except pipe and fixtures
I only mentioned Romex because if the local yokel had a ground wire in his hand, he just might be inclined to use it. No guarantee though.Sharksbaja - 2-21-2010 at 03:58 PM
Spot on Indian projectile point!Bajagypsy - 2-22-2010 at 05:42 AM
Very sorry about your friends house, that truly does suck.
we brought all of our own electrical and Mr. Gypsy wired our guest house. We love the way our builders built our house, just didn't want to chance
something as important and potentially dangerous as the electrical work. Our Casa is all done to Canadian electrical code.
