Receptacle shorted

[retirede]

Around here the owner is responsible for maintenance.

That would be normal everywhere unless something special in the lease agreement specified differently.

 

[qcroanoke]

My Mother would have said "B___ S___ little Eva!"

Only if she is allowed to subtract it from her rent. (Plus a small processing fee.)

His property, his problem, his bill.
What landlord wouldn't want a licensed tradesman to check that out? That was very close to being a fire.

 

[tthh]

Could also be that a bunch of paint coated the blade on the way into the outlet and the resulting contact area was smaller and overheated.

 

[ptonsparky]

Could also be that a bunch of paint coated the blade on the way into the outlet and the resulting contact area was smaller and overheated.

Possible.

 

[lordofthisworld]

The problem with explaining this to her is that she thinks that in general, receptacles are not ganged to each other back to one breaker. Most people don't think it in electrical terms. They see an outlet, and they will add all sorts of things, plug strips, and then even more appliances to said plug strip. Then wonder why the breaker trips. She rented the place and the owner wants a licensed electrician to check it oiut, and she is whining about it.

Why is she even whining? She renting, the landowner will be paying it.

 

[qcroanoke]

Why is she even whining? She renting, the landowner will be paying it.

Landlord wants her to pay.

 

[LarryFine]

Landlord wants her to pay.

What does the landlord allege the tenant did wrong to cause it?

 

[growler]

That's damage from a long-duration high current, like a heater.

What does the landlord allege the tenant did wrong to cause it?

He probably thinks she used a space heater or something.

To be honest folks I have used a space heater and never had a receptacle burn like that. It's a 15 amp receptacle with a load of less than 15 amps (about 12.5 amps).

I don't know of any way to prove it but I would bet on a poor connection. Anything from poor spring tension to maybe paint on the connection.

 

[LarryFine]

He probably thinks she used a space heater or something.

Not illegal, unless specified in the rental agreement.

I don't know of any way to prove it but I would bet on a poor connection. Anything from poor spring tension to maybe paint on the connection.

All of which is the landlord's responsibility; I presume you agree.

 

[qcroanoke]

Not illegal, unless specified in the rental agreement.

In the lease we have with the tenant they cannot have a portable heater.

All of which is the landlord's responsibility; I presume you agree.

It is in our lease.
Water and electricity repairs are our problem. I can't imagine telling a tenant that it was their problem to fix.

 

[drcampbell]

Low spring pressure is often a problem with older receptacles where they get constant plugging and unplugging.

A device that cost 25-30 cents probably won't last forever.

And dime-store receptacles that pass current through the spring elements.

 

[qcroanoke]

And dime-store receptacles that pass current through the spring elements.

You mean backstabbed?