minor electrical SNAFFU

[GreensvilleJay]

neighbour asks if I can replace a 'split' receptacle, that he's only using 1/2 of....
...for some 'strange' reason.....
I wasn't busy, had the parts and time...

 

[Daren Todd]

Did he happen to say what he was using in the plug

I've seen them give up the smoke before, but dang.....

 

[DustyRusty]

The breaker should have tripped long before that happened to the receptacle.

 

[Outnumbered]

That was a close call for a fire!

 

[ctfjr]

The breaker should have tripped long before that happened to the receptacle.

Of course if was on a 20 amp breaker those wires could have burned a lot longer

 

[fried1765]

neighbour asks if I can replace a 'split' receptacle, that he's only using 1/2 of....
...for some 'strange' reason.....
I wasn't busy, had the parts and time...

What?
No Canada MANDATED.... "Arc Fault" breaker?
Tisk....tisk!

 

[lynnmor]

Of course if was on a 20 amp breaker those wires could have burned a lot longer

Just think of plugging in an electric heater and the considerable heat it makes, then you will know why the breaker didn't trip since it was only resistance and not a direct short.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

So many want to bash Arc fault and Ground fault breakers but this is one prime example why they are needed.
That's not a short that will trip a breaker, it's and arc, and it just keeps going till the arc reaches a gap that's to large to bridge and quits.
Most of the Arc faults are hidden and will arc till they start a fire and burn everything down.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

1500 watt IR heater was the load. The 'problem' is the receptacle is mounted horizontally, so every time he move the cord the 'blade' opens the gap in the receptacles contacts. Over time a real 'gap'..bzzzzz.poof.
Located in old skool plaster walled cooler,so ne real fire hazard,luckily
Don't get me going on those mandated arc fault breakers. New build next door, NONE were installed. Then not required on fridges, furnace, and a few other appliances. Seems if you run Bx(amoured) cable from panel to first box..those that follow can be NMD(plastic) wire, ,reg brkr passes code ? I spent hours listening to a 'master electrician' TRY to explain the code but it's so full of holes, to get around buying $100 breakers that don't work.
Good news is it's another barter I get to call in later !!!

 

[NCL4701]

Reminds me of some of the stuff I used to see at fire scenes back when service panels used glass screw in fuses. More than a few times, a fuse would blow and if the resident didn’t have a replacement, they’d “temporarily” put a penny in the hole to bridge the gap and screw the fuse in on top of it to hold it. Of course they’d pick up a fuse next time they were in town , but six months later when a space heater and iron were running on the same circuit stuff would start cooking in the walls. I don’t know how many amps a penny is rated for but it’s a hell of a lot more than 15 or 20.