How to power holiday display?
Question by jrasche2003: How to power holiday display?
I have a small holiday display that I put up which consists of animatronic deer, polar bear and a holiday train. I only have one outdoor outlet which is GCFI in the back of the house. In order to run my lights I use outdoor thick green extension cords, but because I dont want cords draped along the driveway, I have them going through the gutter. I do beleive there are two 25 foot cables connected in the gutter, which run down, and I use several more of the green extentions to power everything in the yard.
My question is: When it snows no problem.. but when it rains (which the last couple xmas in minnesota were warm and rainy), they pop the GFCI, and I have to wait maybe 2-3 days after the rain stops to turn them back out or it just trips.
What do you think is causing this? Is there a better way to power all of these?
Any help you can provide is appreciated, because I have been very disapointed, and I really am thinking of selling my stuff and not decorating again…..
Thanks
Best answer:
Answer by mdesertbound
Ahhhhhh yes, The holiday decorarting in snow & rain.
I’m in the desert now!
We used to run our extension cord out to a power stake (the one’s with three outlets & timer). I could cover it with a zip lock bag and a close it up with a twist tie at the base. We did the same at all extension cord to extension cord connections. This way no water gets at the connections to trip the GFI.
Add your own answer in the comments!