Mosgiel pensioner Eleanor Moore's mobility scooter explosion could have been avoided by following some precautionary charging measures but one makes her feel unsafe and she hopes Housing NZ will provide greater protection.
Mrs Moore (68) said she had charged her mobility scooter the same way for four years, before it exploded and melted outside her Housing NZ flat in Mosgiel earlier this month.
Senior Station Officer Scott Lindsay, of Mosgiel, said although the fire investigation was continuing, Mrs Moore's charging method had exposed her to a greater risk of fire.
The extension cord she had used to charge the scooter had been connected to a multi-plug power board, which could easily be overloaded, he said.
Mrs Moore should have plugged the cord into a residual current device (RCD) and then plugged the RCD to a direct power outlet, Mr Lindsay said.
The extension cord used was ''frayed and damaged'' from being crushed in the aluminium window sash, he said.
An extension cord should not be used through a window, he said.
Mrs Moore said she rode her scooter in the daytime and felt unsafe charging her scooter overnight with a door open.
Mobility Scooters Otago owner Tony McCarthy said he had lent Mrs Moore another mobility scooter until the fire investigation and insurance assessment were complete.
Mobility scooters were designed to be charged slowly overnight and he would not recommend customers leaving a door open at night to charge their scooter.
Mr Lindsay said ideally, when charging outdoors, a weather-tight plug, installed outside the house, should be used to minimise risk.
Mrs Moore said she would use the RCD given to her yesterday but she would continue to run an extension cord from her window at night.
''I have to, because I have no other way of doing it.''
She would be happy if Housing NZ installed a weather-tight outdoor plug outside her flat, she said.
Housing NZ tenancy services regional manager Symon Leggett said Mrs Moore's flat was ''fully modified'' for accessibility.
''We are meeting the tenant this week to discuss alternative ways for them to charge their scooter to ensure they are safe, including charging it inside.''
Dunedin City Council city property housing manager Sharron Tipa said the 30 new council flats had weather-tight outdoor plugs with RCDs installed.
Tenants in older flats could get an outdoor plug with RCD installed and pay the $350 installation cost back at $5 a week, she said.
She preferred tenants used an outdoor plug for charging a mobility scooter, rather than running an extension cord from a window.
Using electrical equipment outdoors
• Always use a residual current device (RCD) or an isolating transformer. RCDs protect from a fatal electric shock by cutting the current if there is an electrical problem.
• Always visually check the cords for any cuts or damage and run your hand down its length to feel for cracks or damage. If you find a problem, do not use the equipment until the cord is professionally repaired or replaced. Frayed, cracked or damaged cords are dangerous and may result in fire or cause an electric shock.
• Always keep cords and electrical equipment away from any metal that can catch or cut it.
• Always pull the plug, rather than the cord, when disconnecting an appliance or lead.
• Extension cords should not be used as a long-term or permanent electrical connection. They should not be placed under rugs or furniture and should never be strung through doorways, windows, walls, ceilings, or floors.
• Extended exposure to outdoor conditions can cause cords to deteriorate, so whether they are rated for indoors or outdoors, store all extension cords inside when they are not in use.
Source: Energy Safety
Mrs Moore (68) said she had charged her mobility scooter the same way for four years, before it exploded and melted outside her Housing NZ flat in Mosgiel earlier this month.
Senior Station Officer Scott Lindsay, of Mosgiel, said although the fire investigation was continuing, Mrs Moore's charging method had exposed her to a greater risk of fire.
The extension cord she had used to charge the scooter had been connected to a multi-plug power board, which could easily be overloaded, he said.
Mrs Moore should have plugged the cord into a residual current device (RCD) and then plugged the RCD to a direct power outlet, Mr Lindsay said.
The extension cord used was ''frayed and damaged'' from being crushed in the aluminium window sash, he said.
An extension cord should not be used through a window, he said.
Mrs Moore said she rode her scooter in the daytime and felt unsafe charging her scooter overnight with a door open.
Mobility Scooters Otago owner Tony McCarthy said he had lent Mrs Moore another mobility scooter until the fire investigation and insurance assessment were complete.
Mobility scooters were designed to be charged slowly overnight and he would not recommend customers leaving a door open at night to charge their scooter.
Mr Lindsay said ideally, when charging outdoors, a weather-tight plug, installed outside the house, should be used to minimise risk.
Mrs Moore said she would use the RCD given to her yesterday but she would continue to run an extension cord from her window at night.
''I have to, because I have no other way of doing it.''
She would be happy if Housing NZ installed a weather-tight outdoor plug outside her flat, she said.
Housing NZ tenancy services regional manager Symon Leggett said Mrs Moore's flat was ''fully modified'' for accessibility.
''We are meeting the tenant this week to discuss alternative ways for them to charge their scooter to ensure they are safe, including charging it inside.''
Dunedin City Council city property housing manager Sharron Tipa said the 30 new council flats had weather-tight outdoor plugs with RCDs installed.
Tenants in older flats could get an outdoor plug with RCD installed and pay the $350 installation cost back at $5 a week, she said.
She preferred tenants used an outdoor plug for charging a mobility scooter, rather than running an extension cord from a window.
Using electrical equipment outdoors
• Always use a residual current device (RCD) or an isolating transformer. RCDs protect from a fatal electric shock by cutting the current if there is an electrical problem.
• Always visually check the cords for any cuts or damage and run your hand down its length to feel for cracks or damage. If you find a problem, do not use the equipment until the cord is professionally repaired or replaced. Frayed, cracked or damaged cords are dangerous and may result in fire or cause an electric shock.
• Always keep cords and electrical equipment away from any metal that can catch or cut it.
• Always pull the plug, rather than the cord, when disconnecting an appliance or lead.
• Extension cords should not be used as a long-term or permanent electrical connection. They should not be placed under rugs or furniture and should never be strung through doorways, windows, walls, ceilings, or floors.
• Extended exposure to outdoor conditions can cause cords to deteriorate, so whether they are rated for indoors or outdoors, store all extension cords inside when they are not in use.
Source: Energy Safety
