GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Once again, a viral Internet challenge is going against the common sense instilled by our parents. But the “Outlet Challenge” can harm more than just the person taking part.
The challenge involves placing a penny – or some other conductor – between a phone charger and the outlet it’s plugged into. People will film themselves taking part and then post it on social media. WPS Spokesman Matt Cullen reminds everyone that doing this is a bad idea.
“Taking that penny and placing it in between the prongs of a phone charger while it’s plugged into an outlet and the outlet itself – what that does is essentially creating a short circuit, causing sparks and arcing to occur,” Cullen tells WTAQ News, “It could start a fire or even damage the electrical system within a home or a building, so we’re urging everyone to not attempt this challenge.”
It could also cause serious burns to the person attempting the challenge or those around them. That’s why WPS electricians used so many safety precautions when testing it out for themselves.
“Trained experts were only able to do this safely by doing it in a controlled environment while wearing things like a face shield, safety glasses, flame retardant clothing, and very heavy leather gloves that are usually used while working on overhead electric lines,” Cullen says.
Customers are advised not to put anything into an outlet, unless it’s an electrical plug. If you want to learn more about the basics of electrical safety, check here.
