Another DIY fail

[caribbean20]

Got this vacation joint and the few times we use it, something always needs fixing. This time it was a burning smell which we traced to this outlet. I hit the circuit breaker for that bedroom expecting all electricity would be off. Figured no need for the multimeter. Well, you know how that usually works. I knew something seemed fishy but proceeded, nonetheless, albeit cautiously, with the wife yelling “just call an electrician!”

It was just a little jolt, no harm, no foul. Net, net, I learned of a valuable new tool from the electrician, called a “noncontact voltage stick tester.” I just ordered 2 from Amazon

 

[rivermobster]

I just added six new outlets to the garage. All of em 20amp outlets and 12 gauge wire.

You just reminded me Why I went through the trouble.

 

[LazyLavey]

WOW. That could has turn out much worse... glad you're ok

 

[gmnhra]

Had a very Russian electrician a while back
I asked if he was going to flip the breakers first
In a very Russian accent
"Circuit breakers are for pussies"
well...you know what happened next...

 

[4Waters]

Got this vacation joint and the few times we use it, something always needs fixing. This time it was a burning smell which we traced to this outlet. I hit the circuit breaker for that bedroom expecting all electricity would be off. Figured no need for the multimeter. Well, you know how that usually works. I knew something seemed fishy but proceeded, nonetheless, albeit cautiously, with the wife yelling “just call an electrician!”

It was just a little jolt, no harm, no foul. Net, net, I learned of a valuable new tool from the electrician, called a “noncontact voltage stick tester.” I just ordered 2 from Amazon
View attachment 1478676

Those things are great,I have 2 of them myself

 

[bonesfab]

Do them live. You either end up with curly hair or no hair. I can't remember. Just a little buzz to let you know you got the right wire.

 

[SoCalDave]

I never kill power on 120 circuits when working on them. Now 240 and for sure 480 I always power down and test before proceeding. Been hit to many times by 480 in my earlier years and learned my lesson.

 

[HBCraig]

I never kill power on 120 circuits when working on them. Now 240 and for sure 480 I always power down and test before proceeding. Been hit to many times by 480 in my earlier years and learned my lesson.

That's all we use on our tower cranes. 480, 3 phase

 

[poncho]

I never kill power on 120 circuits when working on them. Now 240 and for sure 480 I always power down and test before proceeding. Been hit to many times by 480 in my earlier years and learned my lesson.

Got a 480 tickle once, not cool.

 

[TrollerDave]

Got this vacation joint and the few times we use it, something always needs fixing. This time it was a burning smell which we traced to this outlet. I hit the circuit breaker for that bedroom expecting all electricity would be off. Figured no need for the multimeter. Well, you know how that usually works. I knew something seemed fishy but proceeded, nonetheless, albeit cautiously, with the wife yelling “just call an electrician!”

It was just a little jolt, no harm, no foul. Net, net, I learned of a valuable new tool from the electrician, called a “noncontact voltage stick tester.” I just ordered 2 from Amazon
View attachment 1478676

Glad you’re ok.
Always check for voltage. You never know if the breaker is bad and doesn’t completely open.

That outlet looks rusty and crusty, was there a water leak?

Maybe consider changing that wire also.

 

[TrollerDave]

I never kill power on 120 circuits when working on them. Now 240 and for sure 480 I always power down and test before proceeding. Been hit to many times by 480 in my earlier years and learned my lesson.

“Hey Dave, how many times have you been hit by 480?”

 

[hallett21]

Fuck getting shocked.

 

[ltbaney1]

i have one those non contact testers as well. i still kill the power to what ever im doing and double check with the tester. i got brave a while ago and decided to change a few outlets upstairs and didnt kill the power. got buzzed and walked downstairs and killed the power. I have freinds that are career sparkys and they have told me they almost never turn off 110 power, but they are both terrified of skil saws, i can run a skill saw no problem. its all in what you are comfortable with.

 

[575cat]

just short it out to flip; breaker and move on

 

[RadMan]

When I was just starting out was helping with some pump service. Grabbed a ground wire that was hot “hey Benny, this ground wire is hot”. Benny says no way and grabs it. We built a little trust that day

 

[Familyties]

According to OSHA 120 volt is the number one killer in USA

 

[lbhsbz]

just short it out to flip; breaker and move on

Exactly...how else do you test the breaker?

 

[SoCalDave]

Most of my career was in heavy manufacturing, plastics to be exact. Most of the plants I oversaw were 480vac/3ph. Main panels were anywhere from 4,000amp up to 10,000amp. My last employer we had 4,000amp main and our average electrical bill was $78k per month.

 

[Ultra...Good]

According to OSHA 120 volt is the number one killer in USA

Well, it is the most common and most likely to be "worked on" by amateurs.

 

[SoCalDave]

35 or so years ago I had an acquaintance in Toronto, Canada that had his own plastics manufacturing plant. He built it from the ground up and was getting very successful with his business. He had bought 2 new injection molding machines and was in the process of connecting the power supply (408vac/400amp feed) to one of the machines. He was in the process of stripping the main feeds at the machine and got a anticipated phone call so he went to his office for a few minutes. when he returned to finish his work he grabbed the bare end of a cable and it electrocuted him killing him instantly. Apparently someone had went by the main panel and energized that feed as there were no LOTO implemented and they never found out who had did it. Since that time I learned to ALWAYS do the LOTO procedure. After that any employee on my team that didn't follow SOP were terminated. I was not going to be the one to tell their spouse/family that they had lost a loved one. Fortunately I only had to let one guy go due to this rule.

 

[Taboma]

During my damn near 50 years rising up through the "Sparky" ranks, I like many of my peers, have worked various voltage circuits from 120V through 480v hot, but only due to extenuating circumstances and just being lazy or chest pounding rights wasn't one of them.
On my crews I demanded professionalism, not reckless stupidity and often it's the reaction to the shock, like striking an immovable object or worse, falling off a ladder, that can result in an injury.

I've explained at length in previous posts why 120V is so dangerous and what it can cause your body to do involuntarily and how that can easily result it death. I won't bother to repeat it.
If you take 120V between your callused fingers, no biggie, you take it across your chest, or arm to opposite leg or bare foot, good luck.

If you use a non-contact tester, the first thing you should do before using it is to test it on a known 'Hot Circuit', this will confirm two things --- A. You haven't forgotten to switch it on B. It still works since the last time you put it away.

 

[Taboma]

Got this vacation joint and the few times we use it, something always needs fixing. This time it was a burning smell which we traced to this outlet. I hit the circuit breaker for that bedroom expecting all electricity would be off. Figured no need for the multimeter. Well, you know how that usually works. I knew something seemed fishy but proceeded, nonetheless, albeit cautiously, with the wife yelling “just call an electrician!”

It was just a little jolt, no harm, no foul. Net, net, I learned of a valuable new tool from the electrician, called a “noncontact voltage stick tester.” I just ordered 2 from Amazon
View attachment 1478676

That damage appears to be very old and something that festered over a long period of time as a self-fulfilling route to eventual certain failure. That's normally caused by a loose wire connection, or loose socket blades with a significant and prolonged load. Like a woman's hair blower as those damn things are hard on receptacles due to the high wattage and movement of the cord itself.

You more than likely tried to remove it hot resulting in a dead short since so much insulation has been burned off or fell off because it's so brittle --- did it melt the ground wire off, I don't see one ?

My lovely wife cooked two over a series of years with her hair blower. In my new house I wired, I installed 20amp circuits and 20amp HD industrial receptacles at the locations she pointed out she'd be drying her hair. Those damned things are so stout it takes two hands to plug and unplug, but they ain't blowing up.

 

[rivermobster]

That damage appears to be very old and something that festered over a long period of time as a self-fulfilling route to eventual certain failure. That's normally caused by a loose wire connection, or loose socket blades with a significant and prolonged load. Like a woman's hair blower as those damn things are hard on receptacles due to the high wattage and movement of the cord itself.

You more than likely tried to remove it hot resulting in a dead short since so much insulation has been burned off or fell off because it's so brittle --- did it melt the ground wire off, I don't see one ?

My lovely wife cooked two over a series of years with her hair blower. In my new house I wired, I installed 20amp circuits and 20amp HD industrial receptacles at the locations she pointed out she'd be drying her hair. Those damned things are so stout it takes two hands to plug and unplug, but they ain't blowing up.

Good eye.

 

[SoCalDave]

If you use a non-contact tester, the first thing you should do before using it is to test it on a known 'Hot Circuit', this will confirm two things --- A. You haven't forgotten to switch it on B. It still works since the last time you put it away.

I had a fluke meter once that was giving me some funky readings so I questioned it by trying another meter and sure enough there was voltage present. Always double check is the point here.

 

[poncho]

I had a fluke meter once that was giving me some funky readings so I questioned it by trying another meter and sure enough there was voltage present. Always double check is the point here.

When I'm messing with the big amp 480 I sometimes triple check first.

 

[Taboma]

When I'm messing with the big amp 480 I sometimes triple check first. View attachment 1478755

One very old school one is conspicuously missing, no not a Wiggins that I'm pretty sure you guys don't use ---- But no analog Simpson Meter?
Found those handy when I'd be getting odd voltage readings due to transient harmonics that digitals are more prone to picking up.

 

[TimeBandit]

Threads like this always make me think of grampa Frank. He was an electrical engineer, worked on Sonar in WW2.

He would go thru our electrical panel with two fingers on the same hand, "hot" "hot" "hot" he licked them first to increase sensitivity.

He was doing it way before dvom's were a thing.

He designed electrical for homes / businesses in Reno thru the 40's and 50's

 

[poncho]

One very old school one is conspicuously missing, no not a Wiggins that I'm pretty sure you guys don't use ---- But no analog Simpson Meter?
Found those handy when I'd be getting odd voltage readings due to transient harmonics that digitals are more prone to picking up.

Had one on one of the first boats I worked on, old school engineer taught me to use it correctly, also had a megger that I kind of miss.

 

[caribbean20]

That damage appears to be very old and something that festered over a long period of time as a self-fulfilling route to eventual certain failure. That's normally caused by a loose wire connection, or loose socket blades with a significant and prolonged load. Like a woman's hair blower as those damn things are hard on receptacles due to the high wattage and movement of the cord itself.

You more than likely tried to remove it hot resulting in a dead short since so much insulation has been burned off or fell off because it's so brittle --- did it melt the ground wire off, I don't see one ?

My lovely wife cooked two over a series of years with her hair blower. In my new house I wired, I installed 20amp circuits and 20amp HD industrial receptacles at the locations she pointed out she'd be drying her hair. Those damned things are so stout it takes two hands to plug and unplug, but they ain't blowing up.

OK, so here’s the deal. That socket was old, like very old, maybe 20 or 30 years or so. The environment here is brutal on electrical stuff, close to the beach, salt air. I flipped the breaker but that particular socket was the first in a daisy chain of outlets covering 2 bedrooms downstream. It was on a separate breaker come to find out.

You are correct, that damage festered for a while but was exasperated by the fact that we are using both bedrooms on this trip, thus increasing the load, including a blow dryer as someone pointed out, usually there’s only 2 of us here. The damage you see was the damage there when I removed the wall plate. Due to corrosion, it was arcing causing it to short and heat up.

I was careful when I removed the wires to open the circuit, just got a little careless and got a weak ass zap, nothing big.

As you point out, I did not see a ground wire on it. Electrician replaced the socket and said we are good to go. I’ll keep an eye on it. I’m gonna be more careful next time, probably just listen to my wife.

 

[bonesfab]

277 gives you a pretty good buzz.. 220 I will usually kill the circuit for it doesn't kill me.

 

[poncho]

Not to thread jack here but anyone else ever charge up a capacitor to mess with your co workers.

 

[lbhsbz]

Not to thread jack here but anyone else ever charge up a capacitor to mess with your co workers.

Never...not a once.

I've also never check plug wires with my bare fingers....because that would be irresponsible.

Pro-tip....if dry fingers say the plug wires are good....lick your fingers and try again....you'll find the bad one lol

 

[4Waters]

Not to thread jack here but anyone else ever charge up a capacitor to mess with your co workers.

 

[bonesfab]

Not to thread jack here but anyone else ever charge up a capacitor to mess with your co workers.

Old speed shop trick was a mag under the counter hooked up to it. Give it a whirl to get the customers attention

 

[eand28]

I’ve zapped myself with a spark plug wire before. It’ll wake you up

 

[poncho]

Never...not a once.

I've also never check plug wires with my bare fingers....because that would be irresponsible.

Pro-tip....if dry fingers say the plug wires are good....lick your fingers and try again....you'll find the bad one lol

I got a hold of a plug wire standing in water on a boat with an MSD 8 Pro series digital box, reminder those wires are not fully insulated.

 

[bonesfab]

Never...not a once.

I've also never check plug wires with my bare fingers....because that would be irresponsible.

I am a magnet with anything with a MSD box. Grab the distributor and they always light me up.

 

[Sharky]

Not to thread jack here but anyone else ever charge up a capacitor to mess with your co workers.

Ever put a GM, HEI distributer in a vice and hook it up to 12V for testing. . . .and ask a new hire put their hand on top while you spun the drive gear?

 

[poncho]

Ever put a GM, HEI distributer in a vice and hook it up to 12V for testing. . . .and ask a new hire put their hand on top while you spun the drive gear?

No but sounds fun, always seemed to work with pranksters when I was younger, kept you on your toes.

 

[n2otoofast4u]

This is why I became a plumber and not a sparky! Fuck getting shocked!

 

[oldman]

just short it out to flip; breaker and move on

Paper clip in a wall Socket when I was in kindergarden.

I guess that sealed my fate

 

[wishiknew]

One very old school one is conspicuously missing, no not a Wiggins that I'm pretty sure you guys don't use ---- But no analog Simpson Meter?
Found those handy when I'd be getting odd voltage readings due to transient harmonics that digitals are more prone to picking up.

I went from a wiggie to an amprobe I thought that was the shit at the time then a fluke LOL

 

[wishiknew]

277 gives you a pretty good buzz.. 220 I will usually kill the circuit for it doesn't kill me.

277 the neutral wire will shock the livin shit out of you

 

[rivermobster]

Paper clip in a wall Socket when I was in kindergarden.

I guess that sealed my fate

We did that in Jr High...

Portable classroom, no windows, someone guarding the door...

Lights out! Good times!

 

[callbob]

Did the hair pin in an electrical plug in when I was little and supposed to be taking a nap. One time was all it took.

 

[Taboma]

277 the neutral wire will shock the livin shit out of you

That's especially true and indescribably painful if you happen to have one in each hand and some bastard flips on the light switch ----
And so did hitting the tile floor after it knocked my ass right off that 8' ladder.

 

[Sherpa]

Live, dead, live meter tests always when working big power..

You learn that shit working in data centers.