Christmas Tree
 

Provided many years ago in the Cellar was this prescription for keeping a Christmas tree moist.
2 cups Corn Syrup
2 oz Chlorine Bleach
1 pinch Epson Salt
1/2 Tsp Borax
2 gallons Water

Also recommend for Christmas tree lights is something called an AFGI (not to be confused with something different called a GFCI or GFI). An AFGI is traditionally installed in the breaker box. However a plug-in AFGI has been observed in the hardware store chains (Tru-Value or whatever).

An AFGI can detect a shorted Christmas light; disconnect power before fire starts. As was once demonstrated by a Cellar Dweller, a Christmas tree fire can take out the entire house in only 5 minutes. AGFI would avert that fire.

bump

To correct minorly, it's actually GFCI and AFCI, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupt and Arc Fault Circuit Interrupt.

Seems like standard housing code is for AFCI in bedrooms post 2002, which is not your standard christmas tree location.

A summary, w/ cute animation: http://homeworksinsp.com/electrical.aspx

... and, elsewhere, some cynicism about the tangible difference between an AFCI circuit breaker and a GFCI ... and, here, a lengthy explanation of history, function, and purpose.

I say, turn your lights off at night.

That doesn't sound very encouraging. :eyebrow:

Would not have helped in that previously cited example. She plugged in the Christmas tree. Tree sparked immediately. In five minutes, then entire house was ablaze.

That is what the AGFI is intended to prevent. A plug-in version is difficult to find and may only be readily available in that one above mentioned hardware chain.

Gone in 60 Seconds
 

I think mine would rust or something if I kept it moist.

Nothing says a Christmas tree need be green.

They should make a whole house breaker that does both AFCI and GFCI. I'd pay $150 for one.

I installed a new GFCI outlet yesterday for an upcoming FIOS installation in my unfinished basement. It cost around $15-20 for the single outlet.

A short anywhere in the house shuts off the whole house?

Yeah. Maybe it isn't such a good idea. I was figuring it would be easy protection for everything.

That's done in the UK. In the US, refrigerators cannot be on a GFCI for human safety reasons.

Why? They would rather there be a ground fault and an electrocuted person than have spoiled food?

Far riskier to a human is food spoiled by a refrigerator power off for too long; then cooled by a reset GFCI.

Meanwhile, all refrigerators must have three wire receptacles that make danger minimal.

Do electrical work. Getting shocked is rarely deadly. And then a standard refrigerator has additional connections that make that risk even less. Food poisoning is considered a greater threat according to code.

We used to pay a game when I was a kid. The game was to touch the shielding on a bx armored cable by our basement steps while simultaneously touching a lally column with the other hand. The person who could hold on longest would win.

One day we casually mentioned this game to my dad, and he went white. He fixed whatever it was so we couldn't play that game any more. Well, we could still play, but the fun was gone.

I don't think it was the full force of the current, because I've received that before too, and it's strong. But it was very tingly.