Can water short a switch to activate it?

[Deansplit]

My electric garage opened by what we thought was a child playing with the fob when searching for a torch when we had a power cut a few months back. I thought at first the power cut maybe triggered the motor but surely that'd be a bad design, no good if you're away on holiday!

However, today is heavy rain and I've just noticed the door a 1/3 open! So I tried to close it by pressing the fob but didn't work. I went out and noticed the roof dripping slightly right onto the motor attached to the ceiling. The water is right where the connections are so I'm presuming it's triggered the switch?

As for the first time, can a power cut or a surge in electricity cause something to operate, or shall I just carry on blaming the kids!!?

 

[bernardgreen]

Water dripping into the motor is un-likely to make the motor move.

Water dripping into the controller is likely to affect the sensitive electronics in controller and cause the controller to operate the switches that control the power to the motor.

 

[Deansplit]

Think bout it, it was the control panel! Thanks

 

[securespark]

I did spill a pint of Ribena onto a table lamp base (where the rocker switch was) and that was interesting!

Lamp flashing and flickering on and off...

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I got emulsion paint between the terminals of a dimmer switch (which was just hanging off the wall, not removed ).

Don't think it did any harm, but it didn't smell nice.