# Effect of high humidity on electrical wiring in floor lamp

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-high-humidity-on-electrical-wiring-in-floor-lamp/836332>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 1, 2019, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-high-humidity-on-electrical-wiring-in-floor-lamp/836332 "2019-07-01T06:36:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-high-humidity-on-electrical-wiring-in-floor-lamp/836332/1 "2019-07-01T06:36:12Z")

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I have a tall floor lamp that needs to be left in storage (temperature and climate not controlled) that would probably average 60-85% humidity for the upcoming week. Would that damage the electrical wiring inside the lamp itself?

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**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-high-humidity-on-electrical-wiring-in-floor-lamp/836332/2 "2019-07-01T08:48:11Z")

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No.

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**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [July 1, 2019, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-high-humidity-on-electrical-wiring-in-floor-lamp/836332/3 "2019-07-01T11:53:18Z")

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To expand.

A really old lamp with ancient insulation left for a long time, maybe.

Anything modern for such a short time, nope.

The biggest threat are rats eating the wiring while in storage.

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**Author:** ![Snnipe\_70E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@Snnipe\_70E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snnipe_70E)\
**Post date:** [July 2, 2019, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-high-humidity-on-electrical-wiring-in-floor-lamp/836332/4 "2019-07-02T04:51:48Z")

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Only if the wiring is really old, the kind with cloth insulation.

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**Author:** ![PoppaSan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/poppasan/32/189_2.png) [@PoppaSan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoppaSan)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2019, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-high-humidity-on-electrical-wiring-in-floor-lamp/836332/5 "2019-07-04T00:50:30Z")

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For a week or two, nothing should go wrong. Longer term storage may cause the socket or plug prongs to begin to tarnish and corrode. This would be after months. Spray with a lightweight oil if you’re worried.

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**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2019, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/effect-of-high-humidity-on-electrical-wiring-in-floor-lamp/836332/6 "2019-07-04T01:23:46Z")

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Your proposed storage conditions are almost exactly the same as an average August day in Chicago. No harm will come to the lamp in a week.