Help! My wall sockets are melting! (still)

silverserf said:

Dude, thoses dual circuit outlets are for the kitchen...also the GFI is required around water. Are you just trying to bullshit people or do you really think that there are seperate circuits on each plug in the house, but there are what 10 outlets on each circuit? That makes no sense.

In the kitchen it is wired this way because the appliences are generally high power devices, you might want to put your microwave beside the toaster.

The rest of the house is divided up by room(s), for the most part....

SilverSerf

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skefaman said:

What Are the Causes of a Melted Electrical Outlet?



If you have an electrical outlet that has melted, you need to replace it, but first you need to know why it melted, or the replacement may melt too. Outlets are designed to be reliable and safe, but they won’t work properly if they are mis-wired or used for the wrong purpose. A melted outlet is usually not a cause for concern, but it can signify a hazardous condition in the house wiring.Find local businesses for

• Home Repair & Maintenance

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Undersized Outlet

If you use a 15-amp outlet in a circuit controlled by a 20-amp breaker, the current may overload it and cause it to overheat. This could happen if you plug a power strip into the outlet, load the strip with appliances and turn them all on at once. If the outlet were controlled by a 15-amp breaker, the breaker would trip before it overheated. You can avoid this situation by using 20-amp outlets in 20-amp circuits. These have a horizontal cross on one of the pin inserts, designed to accept the vertical/horizontal pins of appliances rated for 20 amps.​

Undersized Wiring

When current passes through a wire, the wire heats up; thinner wire does so faster than thicker wire. Therefore, if you wire a 20-amp outlet with 14-gauge wire, which is only rated for 15 amps, the ends of the wire can overheat the terminals and melt the plastic when a sufficient load is placed upon them. When you examine the terminals of an outlet that has melted because of undersized wiring, you will notice discoloration on the screws and the attached wires.​

Loose Connections

If a wire is not properly connected to the terminal, it can become partially detached and cause electricity to arc between itself and the terminal. Arcing electricity produces enough heat to melt plastic, and it is a fire hazard. An easy way to avoid loose connections is to bend wires clockwise when you attach them to the terminal screws. This will draw them into the screw when you tighten the screw and make the connection secure.​

Worn Outlets

Sometimes outlet sockets can become worn from excessive use or rough handling, and will no longer hold the prongs from a plug securely. If the plug partially falls out of the sockets while it is in use, it can cause arcing, and this will melt the receptacle and deform the socket openings. The only remedy for this is to replace the outlet, which is inexpensive and easy to install. You can avoid wearing out the new outlet by exercising care when pushing in and pulling out plugs.

ref : http://www.yellowpages.com/yparticles/contractors-construction/of-a-melted-electrical-outlet​

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cues said:

Turn it off and call an electrician. Nothing is worth a house fire.

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silverserf said:

Actuallly phillipchristian i was agreeing with you...it was directed at richinweed. And yes i did read the thread...though at the time I though the picture of the outlet was posted by richinweed, not you.

Really just disagreeing with the single circuit outlets being outlawed in Canada statement, i'm pretty sure that is wrong or at least inacurate.

As in unless he's growing in his kitchen, it should not be a dual circuit outlet. But they are used. Some older homes can have them in other rooms too.

Sorry, i guess dude, isn't the best way to start a respone.

SilverSerf

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