Quote:
Originally Posted by javadog
If you have a 240V heater, you're going to need more than a white, a black and a ground wire. Specifically, you'll need one more wire.
So, I am not sure the investigation is done yet...
JR
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Agreed. If it's 220 or 240 you will have 2 110 wires running to it, a neutral and a ground.
If it's 110 you will only have 1.
My guess is that the previous owner just jumped some romex into an existing outlet, most likely the one 9' away then ran it down behind the base to make a new outlet. Or even from an outlet on the other side of the wall.
I still say cut open the wall a bit on one side and move the wires up. Put em in a junction box and close it back up.
Tell you the truth, I have a couple of connections like that at my house but i always wrap them with something and they are never on the ground like that.
A junction box would be the best .
I doubt they are ever going to spark and catch fire but you want to contain the spark if it ever did.
I'd say your main concern is getting them off the floor. If you had a minor flood, a spill or even an aggressive carpet cleaner you would get those things wet. They wouldn't catch fire but they would flip the breaker and then you wouldn't be able to turn it back on until the water was gone.
Plus live wires on the floor would shock the hell out of you, or even kill you if you stepped in the water and the breaker failed.
Foot in water, live electricity in water. Not a good combo.
Move em up. Just a few inches is all it takes.