It is safe to touch the plastic housing of an ac connector on a wired Nest Protect smoke alarm?

[Skipsteer]

It is safe to touch the plastic housing of an ac connector on a wired Nest Protect smoke alarm when the power is on?

Photos attached...

And is it also safe to leave it like this until a new smoke detector can be installed?

Not sure if I should tape up up or put the nest protect cover back over the plate in the meantime, assuming the lose wires cant electrify the nest protect unit that would cover it in this situation?

 

[GarethW]

It will be similar to touching one of these, so I'd say it's ok.

 

[plugwash]

It is safe to touch the plastic housing of an ac connector on a wired Nest Protect smoke alarm when the power is on?

I would consider touching such a connector the same as touching a wire with only "basic insulation". Indeed the conductors coming out the back of the connector appear to only have basic insulation. If everything is in good condition then touching it should be fine, but it does not have the same level of resilience and protection as a domestic plug and socket or something like a figure 8 or IEC connector.

Personally, in a dry indoor environment if everything appears to be in good condition I would plug and unplug it with the power on, but others may have different levels of risk tolerance. If doing so I would suggest the following reasonable precautions.

1. do not try to unplug the connector by pulling on the wires, this risks ripping the wires out of the back of the connector.
2. try to avoid touching the mating face of the connector.
3. avoid touching anything that may be earthed with other limbs.