...and backstabbers from NJ to California rejoice the findings of the screw down screw ups
Burnt Receptacle...
- Thread starter stickboy1375
- Start date
- Status
...and backstabbers from NJ to California rejoice the findings of the screw down screw ups
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
Here's a baseboard heater from last heating season with a connection that was glowing while I was there to work on it. It was a screw terminal connection:
Couple miscellaneous burnt receptacle pics:
Couple miscellaneous burnt receptacle pics:
- Location
- Massachusetts
...and backstabbers from NJ to California rejoice the findings of the screw down screw ups
Apparently using the screws is now also considered poor workmanship.
I will start cad welding all my conductors onto devices. :smile:Can anyone here honestly say that after many years of installing electrical devices that they have never left a screw not quite tight enough? I bet we all have.
76nemo
Senior Member
- Location
- Ogdensburg, NY
Apparently using the screws is now also considered poor workmanship.
Can anyone here honestly say that after many years of installing electrical devices that they have never left a screw not quite tight enough? I bet we all have.
I would be much more guilty of overtightening:-?
- Location
- Massachusetts
FWIW only the neutral of a MWBC must be pigtailed.
.....Couple miscellaneous burnt receptacle pics:
Shore does look like alyoominium there, Marc.
And counterclock-wise, to boot.
wbalsam1
Senior Member
- Location
- Upper Jay, NY
As you know, it only takes 175 degrees to burn a wooden stud that a 2-hour box might be fastened on. An electrical arc can reach upwards of 10,000 degrees! I have the sense that the fire-resistance rating does not subject a plastic box to 2 hours of arcing temperatures. :smile:
mdshunk
Senior Member
- Location
- Right here.
Sho e nuff.Shore does look like alyoominium there, Marc.
And counterclock-wise, to boot.
Apparently using the screws is now also considered poor workmanship.
That's the spirit!
I agree with Nemo here...usually too tight....especially at 3:27 PM on a Friday trying to get "one more done".
- Location
- Massachusetts
I bet we all would be guilty of that 99.999999% of the time.
That other time you get interrupted in the middle of tightening and you forget, or you think you are tight on the conductor when actually the threads in the device are just binding or whatever.I know your careful, I am careful, I bet 480sparky is careful but we are all humans doing repetitive tasks. :smile:
I bet we all would be guilty of that 99.999999% of the time.
I know your careful, I am careful, I bet 480sparky is careful but we are all humans doing repetitive tasks. :smile:
If you back stabbed you wouldn't have to concern yourself with over tightening
- Location
- Massachusetts
If you back stabbed you wouldn't have to concern yourself with over tightening
Well I do backstab, I put the conductor in the back then tighten the screw. :smile:
Shoot. I gotta admit to that one.
Trimmed out a basement finish yesterday morning. I use a 3-light tester on all receps. Found one with hot/neutral reversed.
And that does......?
Or are you using spec-grade devices with pressure plates?
quogueelectric
Senior Member
- Location
- new york
I have had one basement illegal apt was wired all on 1 20a ckt this looked almost exactly like the first receptacle box and all. Totally luck that the house didnt burn down.This is what I found at a service call I went on yesterday, owner complained of a burnt receptacle... This was located in his daughters bed room, and happened over night, nothing plugged into the receptacle but a space heater down stream, I told him he was a lucky man.
My guess is that the grounded conductor screws were never tightened from day one, but the damage made it very hard to tell what exactly caused the meltdown
wbalsam1
Senior Member
- Location
- Upper Jay, NY
- Location
- Massachusetts
That sounds pretty low, you sure about that?
- Location
- Massachusetts
Often we do use those and when we don't I am a screw wrapper, just can not get into the speed wire holes. But if I was trying to bang out homes I might reconsider.
Black is dark....
White is light...
Payday ain't....
'Til Friday Night.
I used "Black to brass to save your...."
Well, use your imagination.
There's always "Green is ground the world 'round" and "Lefty Loosey and Rightie Tightie."
- Location
- Massachusetts
I trimmed out a condo only to have a short when I was done, traced it back to a end of the run receptacle I had installed, landed black and white on the same side of the receptacle. DOH! :smile:
- Status