Frequently Asked Questions
Electricity seeks the path of least resistance, and human and pet bodies conduct electricity with less resistance than fresh water. This is not usually the case in salt water.
Most electric shock drownings occur when low-level alternating current from boats, docks, or lights "escapes" into the water, shocking people in the water and paralyzing them so they can’t swim or help themselves.
10 mA of alternating current (AC) can cause muscular paralysis and create ESD risk. To put that in perspective, that’s just 1/50th of the electricity flowing through a 60-watt light bulb.
The exact length that electricity can travel in water varies depending on the source, structures in the water, and water clarity and sediment levels. In some test conditions, electricity has reached dangerous levels at more than 300 yards from the source.
Electrical current can cause numerous problems when it passes through a body, including:
- Muscular paralysis
- Respiratory paralysis, shutting down the lungs
- Ventricular fibrillation (a life-threatening heart rhythm that results in a rapid, inadequate heartbeat)
- Cardiac arrest (electrocution)
Animals are susceptible to ESD just like humans.
WaveLink Secure plays the same role as a smoke alarm or a CO2 detector in your home. WaveLink Secure warns you when conditions are dangerous, but it will be up to you to take action to ensure your safety.
The LED light system on the WaveLink Secure hub will turn from blue to red and a siren will alert everyone in the immediate area. A signal is also sent to the WaveLink Secure App, alerting you while you are aware from the dock.
Stay put and call for help from the dock. Do NOT move because the voltage source is unknown, and moving in any direction could put you at risk.
DO NOT JUMP IN THE WATER! First, shut down the breaker, and then use the hook to pull the swimmer in.
An inspection indicates your dock is up to code at that moment in time. Various things can cause wiring on your dock to wear out after the inspection, including wildlife, weather, dock motion, etc.
Yes, WaveLink Secure detects dangerous electrical conditions in the water around your dock while GFCIs protect the circuit on your dock. They serve different functions, but they work well together.