| Author |
Message |
    
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 319
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, February 21, 2004 - 7:19 pm: |     |
You won't believe this weird chain of events, but here goes -- today I was mopping the floor near an electrical outlet, and evidently a drop of water splashed right into the outlet (into which a lamp was plugged). There was a POP, and a few SPARKS, and the plastic surface of the outlet is now SCORCHED!!!
Is this outlet now about to burst into flames? Must I call an electrician tonight, or can I wait, as long as I do not plug anything in?
Secondly, what on earth happened? Did that tiny bit of water short out the outlet?
Thanks for your help, folks!
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Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 198
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 9:07 am: | |
It sounds like you hit it with water.
The breaker is more than likely triped.
Check the panel to confirm this.
It's an easy fix...... Mike
Michael K. Mc Kell
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jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3476
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 22, 2004 - 10:01 am: | |
If the breaker is tripped, and after a fair amount of time to allow the water to dry out, turn the breaker back on as Michael suggested.
If it trips again, you have a problem and need repair work. And as Michael suggested the repair is likely a rather easy job.
If it does not trip and the outlet is working, you have NO fear of a fire breaking out, and all is likely OK.
If you wish the peace of mind, have someone come over, take it apart and check it out.
Here is something I did once. I was scraping wall paper off a wall with a putty knife. I had a lamp plugged into a wall outlet.
the putty knife slipped from my hand and fell, and sliped in between the outlet and the plug.
It dead shorted the prongs to the lamp plug, blue melted metal all over the place, bright blue arc flash and a fair amount of smoke and stuff.
Scared the snot out of me when it happened.
Later,
George
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 320
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 2:15 pm: | |
Thank you all so much (you too, David!)for the advice. The breaker was NOT tripped, but the outlet was soon back to normal, when things dried out, I guess. The perils of mopping!!! |
TomR
Citizen
Username: Tomr
Post Number: 143
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 3:16 pm: | |
If the outlet is scorched, I would replace the unit. Its less than a buck.
TomR. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 2008
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 23, 2004 - 3:36 pm: | |
You can also try wiping the outside of the outlet with a slightly damp paper towel to get the black soot off. I once called our electrician because there was black soot around an outlet in the kitchen. He came over, looked at it & told me to stop pulling appliance cords out while the appliance was on (or something to that effect - see how well I listened)?
Anyway, he wiped off the soot & it hasn't been back since. |
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