Almost burned down my shop

[Nomad74]

I tried to log into one of my security cameras but couldn’t because the wifi extender was not working. I figured that the fans I was using to dry my rugs tripped the breaker.

Drove to the shop to check on things and discovered my wifi extender had melted and the plug had shorted out. Very scary. I’m lucky my entire shop didn’t burn down.

 

[Mikey P]

We aren't you penning screenplays

 

[Nomad74]

We aren't you penning screenplays

Admit it. You’re glad I’m around.

 

[Fat Mike]

Glad it didn’t

 

[Sierra Clean Care]

Lucky. Had a similar thing happen to me In an old house I was living in. It was a Sunday afternoon, I was watching an afternoon movie.... I started to smell burnt electrical. Naturally, I thought it was something to do with my TV, or electronics.
After searching everything around the entertainment system, I followed my nose to a wall outlet right beside my couch. When I pulled the couch away from the wall, I saw a small puff of smoke come from the outlet.
quickly, I turned the breaker off, and grabbed a screw driver. When I pulled the cover screw off, I grabbed it with my fingers, and burned myself...
When I opened it, the outlet was so hot, I had to use an oven mitt to remove it....
I bet if I was working that day, it would have burnt down the house....

 

[Jim Pemberton]

This is a good time to check your insurance coverage. More than a few guys who have small rug plants found out too late that their insurance doesn’t cover their customers’ belongings.

 

[Dolly Llama]

DAYUM


.LT.A.

 

[Mikey P]

what model of WiFi extender?

 

[Mikey P]

Lucky. Had a similar thing happen to me In an old house I was living in. It was a Sunday afternoon, I was watching an afternoon movie.... I started to smell burnt electrical. Naturally, I thought it was something to do with my TV, or electronics.
After searching everything around the entertainment system, I followed my nose to a wall outlet right beside my couch. When I pulled the couch away from the wall, I saw a small puff of smoke come from the outlet.
quickly, I turned the breaker off, and grabbed a screw driver. When I pulled the cover screw off, I grabbed it with my fingers, and burned myself...
When I opened it, the outlet was so hot, I had to use an oven mitt to remove it....
I bet if I was working that day, it would have burnt down the house....

What was plugged into it?

 

[Mikey P]

You got me feeling ALL my gadget's plugs..

This one to my PC's sound system is warmer than I'd expect..
@FredC ?

 

[Mikey P]

What's inside that it only needs that thin cord?

 

[Cleanworks]

You got me feeling ALL my gadget's plugs..

This one to my PC's sound system is warmer than I'd expect..
@FredC ?View attachment 100220View attachment 100220

made in China

 

[Nomad74]

I don't think it was the Wifi extender that caused the plug to fail. I think the plug itself was bad. I had noticed a slight browning coming from the plug about two weeks ago but thought it was caused by my vacuum not being plugged in all the way. I guess not. Thankfully the GFI worked and shut things down. When I went to the shop to figure out why things weren't working, I reset the GFI plug and saw a blue spark shoot out of the bad plug.

You can see in the pic that the Wifi extender got so hot it melted the back of the plug part. I tried plugging it into a working outlet and it no longer works.

 

[Sierra Clean Care]

What was plugged into it?

Absolutely NOTHING!!!!

 

[Old Coastie]

Once you let the smoke out of those things, it is hard to put back in.

 

[Papa John]

There are limitations as to how many items you can plug into a circuit.
Just because you have a lot of outlets doesn't mean you can use them all.

If any power cords get warm- this is your 1st sign of trouble.

I suggest you determine which outlets are on which circuits.
Mark outlets that are on the same circuit with the same number on a sticker adhered to those outlets.

 

[Brian H]

Double check the breaker size in comparison to the wire size. My understanding is that everything in a commercial building has to be at least 20 amp which means all the wire must be 12 gauge or thicker.

The best idea would be to have a licensed electrician check out your wiring. I would not depend on labels on the outlets, especially when employees are concerned.

 

[Nomad74]

All plugs are 20am and also have 50 amp plug for RV or whatever.

I think the issue was the plug was just bad. I thing somewhere something got cracked inside. The breaker never tripped but the GFI did. Im happy it did. My electrician buddy is coming over to look at it.

 

[Old Coastie]

I wish I had an electrician buddy. I can’t even get a paid guy to come run a circuit to my workshop.

 

[Brian H]

I just spoke to our electrician since he was here doing some work and he says the most likely cause of that happening is the outlet wasn't make a good connection to the plug. Or in other words, a worn plug.

 

[Old Coastie]

I just spoke to our electrician since he was here doing some work and he says the most likely cause of that happening is the outlet wasn't make a good connection to the plug. Or in other words, a worn plug.

I nearly burned down a home about eight years ago. Same thing; bad wiring and the electrician I hired discovered multiple issues from an older remodel. The customer actually forbade me to pay the electrician, saying that I probably saved the lives of all of them by blowing that circuit. She paid him to fix that circuit and go over the entire house to correct any other issues.

 

[Fat Mike]

Admit it. You’re glad I’m around.

Glad my bro n Law is an electrician he helped with my electrical at my new place most recently the disconnect for my well was messing up. Very loose connection and all metal box would’ve been bad to get hit with that one

 

[The Great Oz]

A lot of newer outlets use compression connections rather than using a screw. Cheaper outlets don't hold the wire very well and can short/break and melt like this one. I've learned my lesson and don't buy the bargain outlets and switches at HD anymore.

Have your electrician buddy check out a few good outlets while he's there.

Or maybe it's just you.

 

[clean image]

Just had all new breakers/ new breaker box installed.

electrician said breakers, on paper, are suppose to be replaced every 7 years as the factory lube can dry out keepingthem from flipping proper. my box was 30 years old

Mikey, the heat is pretty much the transformers - normal

 

[Brian H]

A lot of newer outlets use compression connections rather than using a screw. Cheaper outlets don't hold the wire very well and can short/break and melt like this one. I've learned my lesson and don't buy the bargain outlets and switches at HD anymore.

Have your electrician buddy check out a few good outlets while he's there.

Or maybe it's just you.

And our electrician says to never use the stab connects. Always use the screw connector.

 

[Mikey P]

Damon I want to thank you for instigating me into replacing my desktop sound system..

Control of and quality of the sound is much better and nothing is burning hot anymore..

 

[Nomad74]

Damon I want to thank you for instigating me into replacing my desktop sound system..

Control of and quality of the sound is much better and nothing is burning hot anymore..

View attachment 100236

And thank you sir for helping me find my Jeep that was stolen from me 27 years ago

 

[Mikey P]

Think I'll have a delicious IPA and enjoy the evening's fireworks to celebrate our harmonious relationship..

 

[Fat Mike]

And thank you sir for helping me find my Jeep that was stolen from me 27 years ago

What a friggin bromance we have here

 

[Hoody]

I don't know a thing about electrical. Back in April, we had a company run power from my breaker box out to our shed for a deep freezer and another separate one for general power. When we flipped the power back on, 220 went through my whole house. Caused a small fire and was a mess, I was able to put it out with a fire extinguisher that I keep next to my furnace. They replaced the breaker box before we bought the place, supposedly it should have not passed inspection. Had to have the electrical re-done and fight with who was going to pay for it. Electronics replaced, fun times. The only GFIs that were there were in the bathrooms and kitchen. Now we have GFIs between anything that an electronic is plugged into and we bought new surge protectors too. They found other issues as well and I sleep better at night knowing they're all fixed.

Damon and I should start a soap opera.