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.
If you want to successfully toasterbath, you have to plug into a non-gfci protected circuit (the ones with the button that says test monthly that you have never tested).
If you want to make sure, get a 220V extension cord if you’re in the US and run it to the laundry room or kitchen. Higher voltage is generally more effective.
That said, if you’re seriously considering this, please talk to someone. Life is worth living.
If you really want to electrocute yourself, pop the cover off your breaker panel, and grab the main line coming in to the breaker box. Home service is 200A in most cases, and the individual circuits are going to be less than that before the breaker pops. 200A at 240v (I think?) without a breaker or fuse to blow is more than enough to electrocute you.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Didn’t they change toasters so that you can’t do this anymore?
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.
That’s why there should also be an extension cord in the cart
How does this work? Does it need to be one without ground?
If you want to successfully toasterbath, you have to plug into a non-gfci protected circuit (the ones with the button that says test monthly that you have never tested).
Right. Does plugging an extension cord into the gfci protected outlet really circumvent that protection though?
No, not really. I think people are suggesting that the extension is used with a different outlet.
No that would be to plug in to another room that isn’t required to have GFCI.
Yup, like bedrooms.
If you want to make sure, get a 220V extension cord if you’re in the US and run it to the laundry room or kitchen. Higher voltage is generally more effective.
That said, if you’re seriously considering this, please talk to someone. Life is worth living.
If you really want to electrocute yourself, pop the cover off your breaker panel, and grab the main line coming in to the breaker box. Home service is 200A in most cases, and the individual circuits are going to be less than that before the breaker pops. 200A at 240v (I think?) without a breaker or fuse to blow is more than enough to electrocute you.
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.
At least in the US, reaching inside your glovebox during a traffic stop has a much higher chance of success.
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.
But does using an extension cord disable this protection?
It does if you plug it into an outlet without the protection.
No and no one said it would
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.
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.
Well, not specifically for toasters. It was more about hairdryers and curling irons causing accidental electrocutions than for suicide prevention.
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.
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.”
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.
Maximum power cord lengths are in the NEC. Regardless of the original motivation, now it’s in the electrical code (US)
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.
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
It just takes a little more ingenuity.
That’s only going to make me buy anoth… son of a bitch we been swindled.
I hope not, as I always considered it a viable option for when I’ve had enough.
It also only works with cast iron tubs. Modern ones tend to be fiberglass.
Only one way to find out