Any electricians out there?

[ntw0rk]

I need to know why my outlets are burning up!

This has happened twice in the last week, in two different parts of the house. One outlet was original to the house, the other is new as of a year ago. But both did this:

 

[venom 1]

If their was a short than your breaker should have kicked :dontknow: I would call someone asap though before your place goes up in flames

 

[ntw0rk]

Neither time did the breaker pop.

This last one was the outlet for the microwave, I will be replacing it with a GFCI outlet. Hopefully that will help a little too.

 

[SilvrSRT10]

There is apparently either too high a current being drawn through the outlet or the outlet for some reason (corroded ?) is causing a lot of resistance. What was plugged into the other outlet that had a meltdown?

 

[ntw0rk]

There is apparently either too high a current being drawn through the outlet or the outlet for some reason (corroded ?) is causing a lot of resistance. What was plugged into the other outlet that had a meltdown?

The one that is in the picture hadn't been used for a while and that happened when a phone charger was plugged in.

The other one was the microwave, and the TV, cable box, radio and PS3, all of which were turned off. (Except the microwave at the time)

 

[SilvrSRT10]

I wouldn't think a phone charger would pull enough current to cause that. Other sources are saying it's a possible loose connection.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080219111104AAHUTCg

 

[perk_1405]

loose connections will cause hi heat to be present.

 

[JRSVIPR]

The one that is in the picture hadn't been used for a while and that happened when a phone charger was plugged in.

The other one was the microwave, and the TV, cable box, radio and PS3, all of which were turned off. (Except the microwave at the time)

The microwave needs its own circuit, They draw a lot of amps. And by the looks of that outlet i would shut down the power or there may very well be a house fire.

 

[Manic]

Scott,

Do you have aluminium wiring?

Wil

 

[ntw0rk]

Didn't seem like any loose wires either. But, it's hard to say with the condition of the outlet by the time I found it.


I will probably try to find a (cheap) electrician. Yikes! :afraid:

 

[ILtemprd]

can you post the manufacturer of the outlet..also is there anything heavy like a large copier on this circuit?..not the outlet itself but on the circuit. You may have a harmonics problem on your neutral.

 

[ntw0rk]

Scott,

Do you have aluminium wiring?

Wil

Yes some of the old wiring is aluminum. Including the two that burnt up!

 

[ntw0rk]

can you post the manufacturer of the outlet..also is there anything heavy like a large copier on this circuit?..not the outlet itself but on the circuit. You may have a harmonics problem on your neutral.

The outlet was a Leviton, but I purposely bought a commercial grade outlet. It is rated at 15 amps.

Nothing heavy other than the mic and the LCD TV on that circuit. The TV wasn't even turned on. And LCD's don't draw that much power do they??

 

[Manic]

If the electrical plugs are copper, it can cause a reaction.

You will either need to find aluminium plugs or if I am correct, a gell coating can be used.

I am not a qualified electrician but have ran into this in the past.

Best of luck!

Wil

 

[ILtemprd]

It looks to me from the picture is that the small buss jumper from one screw terminal to the next may have cracked by over torquing the connections. Load transfer through this bad connection which is daisy chaining to the next outlet is the reason for the melt down. You want the connections tight but remember that the housing plastic gives.

 

[ILtemprd]

The outlet was a Leviton, but I purposely bought a commercial grade outlet. It is rated at 15 amps.

Nothing heavy other than the mic and the LCD TV on that circuit. The TV wasn't even turned on. And LCD's don't draw that much power do they??

good outlet and no they dont.

 

[SilvrSRT10]

Check this out.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,562098-8,00.html

 

[Manic]

Thanks Silvr, exactly what I was thinking of.

Looks like you have some work to do Scott...

Wil

 

[ntw0rk]

If the electrical plugs are copper, it can cause a reaction.

You will either need to find aluminium plugs or if I am correct, a gell coating can be used.

I am not a qualified electrician but have ran into this in the past.

Best of luck!

Wil

You may have something there!! The back of the microwave outlet, seen here, says that it is for copper and copper clad wires only!

The other outlet I replaced with an outlet that specified that it was for aluminum wiring because I recognized that the wiring was aluminum....

 

[ntw0rk]

Check this out.

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,562098-8,00.html

That's a great find! Thanks!!

I know that there is at least one place where old meets new, and I doubt if they used the right connectors.

I will be going through the house tomorrow and checking all of the outlets to make sure they are the correct kind.

My MIL just informed me that when they bought the house in about 2002, they replaced all of the outlets. She and my wife bought them, and then an electrician friend installed them. My guess is he didn't pay any attention...

This one's gonna cost me.... :argh::argh: