Good ways to tape extension cords outside?

Question

Hey all,
Every year we put up a huge display of holiday lights outside the house...but we always seem to run into the same problem. Every year, in the middle of December, the lights decide not to work, and trip the GFCI. Now im thinking that it has to do with the extension cord connections to the lights, which we have tried numerous times to seal from the elements...Do you have any suggestions or good ways to "seal" the plugs from the elements, and prevent the lights from tripping the GFCI?

Answer 1

I slip my connections inside a 1 foot piece of pvc pipe and raise it off the ground a few inches, laying it horizontal. The pipe keeps the rain and snow off the cord connections.

You cannot overload a GFCI as one mistaken person told you. GFCI's trip from voltage leaks to ground, not overloads. A circuit breaker trips from overloads.

Answer 2

Get properly constructed outdoor plugs and sockets. These are tighter fitting than normal ones and have 'O' rings fitted to seal the plug from any external elements. Failing that, get some self-amalgamating tape, you stretch it ti half its width, and bind the joint, and it basically sets into a solid lump of rubber round the joint. You won't be able to undo this joint except by cutting it.

Answer 3

let the female Plug end hang down, when it rains
[god we need some] the water will drip off the plug end and keep the gfi from tripping,
there is also a snap on cover for extension cords you can get at a hardware store that will help.

Answer 4

I wrap the outlet and plug with a plastic bag and then wrap the bag to the cord with black electrical tape. It's pretty waterproof and easy to remove.

Answer 5

You can seal the connections with silicone caulk. It is water proof and sticks where you want it to. The connections will pull apart when it is time to put things away.

Answer 6

I think you are over loading you gfi.I pop them all the time when I over load them. Try replacing with a 20 amp gfi seal your cords with electrical tape

Answer 7

duct tape