Safer outlets, safer homes

May is National Electric Safety Month. We covered the most common causes of electrical accidents. Many houses are not up to electric code or have obvious electric dangers. On the other end of the scale, safety-conscious homeowners have ever-expanding options for protecting their families.

Among the newer innovations are the BSafe outlet and the SafePlug receptacle. BSafe outlets replace standard outlets. They are designed to sense high temperatures in electric wiring and cut the power before a fire ignites. Overheated wiring can be caused by an overloaded outlet, faulty wiring and loose screw connections in outlets.

A SafePlug receptacle can plug into a regular outlet or replace an existing outlet, but it is a more complex and expensive system. It has a microchip that detects changes in current. This helps prevent fires while also protecting devices from power surges.

The SafePlug also provides shock protection through a wirelessly encoded plug tag. Electric current will only run through the receptacle if a tagged device is plugged in. This means curious kids can't be electrocuted if they stick fingers, hairpins or other objects in the outlet.

BSafe technology is only currently (pun intended) available in 15-amp outlets, which cost $8.95, or $9.97 with a tamper-resistant faceplate. The company expects to deliver a heat-detecting outlet converter and a power strip this year. The outlets are more than 10 times more expensive than standard outlets, but a couple dollars less than a basic GFCI outlet.

However, unlike a GFCI outlet, BSafe outlets cannot be reset. If the outlet detects high heat, it cuts off and shoots out an indicator pin. The load is fully and permanently disconnected from the outlet, which must be replaced. The company recommends consulting a professional electrician if one of its outlets shuts off.

A SafePlug trial kit costs $69.95, including one receptacle, installation hardware and a set of plug tags.

National Electric Safety Month is as good an excuse as any to upgrade your outlets to help prevent fires and electrocution.