Lingering Electrical Smells: What Gives?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the lingering electrical smells produced by short circuits, specifically referencing a toaster oven incident. Participants note that these smells, often associated with ozone, sulfur, or chlorine, are more persistent than organic odors. The consensus is that the toxicity of ozone makes it more detectable and memorable, leading to a stronger olfactory response. Additionally, the conversation touches on the potential ozone production by certain air purifiers, such as the Ionic Breeze, which operates using a parallel plate capacitor.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electrical short circuits and their effects
  • Knowledge of ozone and its properties
  • Familiarity with air purification technologies, specifically Ionic Breeze
  • Basic concepts of olfactory perception and human evolution
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the chemical properties of ozone and its health effects
  • Explore the mechanisms of air purifiers and their impact on indoor air quality
  • Investigate methods for effectively ventilating spaces after electrical incidents
  • Learn about the evolution of human olfactory senses in relation to toxic substances
USEFUL FOR

Homeowners, electricians, safety inspectors, and anyone interested in understanding the implications of electrical failures and their odors.

pete worthington
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Lingering Electrical Smells

My toaster oven shorted out this morning. My wife saw a flash, a small flame and then very limited smoke. Then the smell...oh that lingering electrical stink that permeates the air spreading at the speed of light thoughout the house.

I qiickly removed the toaster oven and tossed it off the porch. Oh, isn't that fun! Then I put on the exhaust fan as my olfactory senses sent their signal to my brain which quickly recognized that smell, storing it in a place I do not wish to frequent. Yes there is a question here...

Why is it that electrical shorts have such powers of diffusion and linger? It seems the only way to rid of it is to ventilate, mask it with incense and get the heck out of there for a few hours. Organic smells clear much quicker and don't permeate like an electrical short. What's this all about ?
 
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pete worthington said:
Organic smells clear much quicker and don't permeate like an electrical short. What's this all about ?
Possibly it's more noticeable to us because ozone is highly toxic, the same as sulphur or chlorine which also linger. Maybe we're evolved to notice things like that more than something that's merely unpleasant.
 
Speaking of ozone, I've heard that those "Ionic Breeze"-like air purifiers produce ozone sometimes. As far as I know, it's just a long parallel plate capacitor, so maybe it's the impurities bridging the gap?