Burnt Receptacle...

[peter d]

The damage was to severe to tell anything, all I ended up with was a bunch of bare copper conductors, could not tell a EGC from a ungrounded conductor. let alone tell if the screws were actually fully tightened.

OK, gotcha. Did you happen to look at any of the other boxes or was there any open wiring that you could inspect for clues to amateur hacking?

 

[peter d]

Wow. That's a pretty high percentage. That's kinda scary.

Not really when you consider that the vast majority of Bob's answers are based on actual code rules or common sense.

 

[frenchelectrican]

All I have to say "wow " that is the worst one I did see for while in North America side the European side is not too far behind with like that.


Merci,Marc

{ P.S. I am in Paris France at the moment }

 

[ptonsparky]

How did the wires look outside of the box? Last time I saw something as bad all the damage was contained inside a metal sw box. The damage stopped at the clamp.

 

[stickboy1375]

OK, gotcha. Did you happen to look at any of the other boxes or was there any open wiring that you could inspect for clues to amateur hacking?

It was 6:30 at night, didnt really look around too much, just tore out the burnt stuff, removed the staples holding the NM's to the stud, stripped the NM back to a good spot and installed a old work plastic box, turned the circuit back on.

 

[stickboy1375]

How did the wires look outside of the box? Last time I saw something as bad all the damage was contained inside a metal sw box. The damage stopped at the clamp.

perfect, and yes, all the damage was contained inside the box.

 

[aftershock]

I have seen receps damaged that bad, mostly due to back stab. The box though, I have only seen that much damage when the wire was AL.

 

[steelersman]

I have seen receps damaged that bad, mostly due to back stab. The box though, I have only seen that much damage when the wire was AL.

I seriously doubt it

 

[aftershock]

I seriously doubt it

Why would you doubt it?

 

[steelersman]

Why would you doubt it?

so far all evidence posted is from screw terminated devices. Show me one of back-stabbed devices.

 

[480sparky]

so far all evidence posted is from screw terminated devices. Show me one of back-stabbed devices.

Your wish is my command.

 

[steelersman]

Your wish is my command.

probably photo-shopped.

 

[steelersman]

Your wish is my command.

but can the reason for this meltdown be blamed on backstabbed wires?

 

[480sparky]

but can the reason for this meltdown be blamed on backstabbed wires?

Prove otherwise.

 

[steelersman]

Prove otherwise.

is it your photo? I can only assume it's not since you don't seem to know what the cause was.

 

[480sparky]

is it your photo? I can only assume it's not since you don't seem to know what the cause was.

What do you think could have caused that kind of damage?

 

[steelersman]

What do you think could have caused that kind of damage?

a blow torch perhaps. what say you over at the busting neutrals thread?

 

[iwire]

is it your photo? I can only assume it's not since you don't seem to know what the cause was.

What do think the cause was? A plumbers torch?

 

[steelersman]

What do think the cause was? A plumbers torch?

see above...I don't have alot of experience with finding these problems, and I haven't ever seen a burned up outlet so I have nothing to go off of. So I don't know if there are other possibilities other than arcing due to a poor connection.

 

[iwire]

a blow torch perhaps.

OK I was only kidding about a torch, but you really belive that. I am done here.