A question about electrical currents?

Question

I flooded my house two nights ago and all the extension cords i use were soaked wet and stopped functioning. The ones with the regular screws, i was able to open up and dry myself but i have one i wasn't able to open, it's dry now (i'm pretty sure) and it works but when i picked it up to move it, i felt an electric current going through the outside of it. It didn't blow a fuse or reset the circuit breaker so i am still using it now but should i be worried about the current going through it or will that go away?

Answer 1

"Will that go away"?  Probably not, till you unplug it and put it in the nearest dumpster.  I would suspect it will get worse before it gets better. When you replace it, make sure you buy number 12 wire,  it cost a little more, but it nice to be on the heavy side. Your equipment will last a lot longer.

Answer 2

Yes the current going through it will go away, as soon as you unplug it.

It's probably not all the way dried out.

Play it safe and just trash it.  A new one costs less than either a ambulance ride, an emergency room visit or mortuary expenses.

Good luck.

No! Wait!

This isn't a matter of luck.  

Trash it!

Answer 3

Water is a conductor. Dry the extension cord stretched out in the sun on dry concrete or the street curb. This could take several hours or several days, depending on where you live. Electricity travels over the path of least resistance, ie; the copper wires contained within the extension cord.  When the current finds an easier path(water) it follows that path, or as in your case both, tho to a lesser degree. Check the casing for cuts,nicks, deep abraisions, if you find any, get rid of the cord,PERIOD.