I think the issue was daisy-chaining the outlets together, and a massive load somewhere downstream previously. The previous owner had a large A/V setup and a large computer station in that room all on that circuit. We don't have anything near that large on it, just a LED TV, router/modem, and a 27w LED lamp.
Burned neutrals on outlet - pigtail?
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Originally Posted By: sciphi
I think the issue was daisy-chaining the outlets together, and a massive load somewhere downstream previously. The previous owner had a large A/V setup and a large computer station in that room all on that circuit. We don't have anything near that large on it, just a LED TV, router/modem, and a 27w LED lamp.
I understand but that circuit should have been protected by a 15A overcurrent device, either a circuit breaker or a fuse. So it should have seen a total current of 15A or less regardless of how many appliances were simultaneously connected to the circuit. One would have thought that if the method is UL approved it would have safely permitted 15A without burning the wires. But clearly that isn't the case.
I think the issue was daisy-chaining the outlets together, and a massive load somewhere downstream previously. The previous owner had a large A/V setup and a large computer station in that room all on that circuit. We don't have anything near that large on it, just a LED TV, router/modem, and a 27w LED lamp.
I understand but that circuit should have been protected by a 15A overcurrent device, either a circuit breaker or a fuse. So it should have seen a total current of 15A or less regardless of how many appliances were simultaneously connected to the circuit. One would have thought that if the method is UL approved it would have safely permitted 15A without burning the wires. But clearly that isn't the case.
Originally Posted By: kschachn
Originally Posted By: sciphi
I think the issue was daisy-chaining the outlets together, and a massive load somewhere downstream previously. The previous owner had a large A/V setup and a large computer station in that room all on that circuit. We don't have anything near that large on it, just a LED TV, router/modem, and a 27w LED lamp.
I understand but that circuit should have been protected by a 15A overcurrent device, either a circuit breaker or a fuse. So it should have seen a total current of 15A or less regardless of how many appliances were simultaneously connected to the circuit. One would have thought that if the method is UL approved it would have safely permitted 15A without burning the wires. But clearly that isn't the case.
IIRC I flipped a 20A breaker.
Your explanation makes sense why some of the wires were burned. That breaker also wasn't labeled like all the other breakers in the box, which suggests it was replaced at some point. Probably because a 15A breaker kept tripping.
I wonder what other Easter eggs lay in the wiring now. Blankety-blank previous owners...
Originally Posted By: sciphi
I think the issue was daisy-chaining the outlets together, and a massive load somewhere downstream previously. The previous owner had a large A/V setup and a large computer station in that room all on that circuit. We don't have anything near that large on it, just a LED TV, router/modem, and a 27w LED lamp.
I understand but that circuit should have been protected by a 15A overcurrent device, either a circuit breaker or a fuse. So it should have seen a total current of 15A or less regardless of how many appliances were simultaneously connected to the circuit. One would have thought that if the method is UL approved it would have safely permitted 15A without burning the wires. But clearly that isn't the case.
IIRC I flipped a 20A breaker.
Your explanation makes sense why some of the wires were burned. That breaker also wasn't labeled like all the other breakers in the box, which suggests it was replaced at some point. Probably because a 15A breaker kept tripping.
I wonder what other Easter eggs lay in the wiring now. Blankety-blank previous owners...
I wonder what other Easter eggs lay in the wiring now. Blankety-blank previous owners...
LOL.. At least I'm not alone found another one yesterday. 3 wires going into a standard single gang box, one set tied together with pigtails for the 15a outlet. The other set ran to straight to the plug. Have no idea how it all fit in there. I knew there was two wires but had no idea on number 3. Found it coiled behind insulation.. at least it was capped off this time.
On the other wall in the same room found 2 splices behind the wall. This house is full of easter eggs.. unfortunately their all rotten!
LOL.. At least I'm not alone found another one yesterday. 3 wires going into a standard single gang box, one set tied together with pigtails for the 15a outlet. The other set ran to straight to the plug. Have no idea how it all fit in there. I knew there was two wires but had no idea on number 3. Found it coiled behind insulation.. at least it was capped off this time.
On the other wall in the same room found 2 splices behind the wall. This house is full of easter eggs.. unfortunately their all rotten!
Originally Posted By: sciphi
I wonder what other Easter eggs lay in the wiring now. Blankety-blank previous owners...
It takes all kinds. I once saw an open house where the guy selling it was clearly an amateur electrician. He had put in new ceiling fans, and his favorite means of running wire was to drop wire from the attic into the closets, and nail a plastic junction box directly to drywall inside the closet, wires exposed. It gets better though; he had run telephone and cable TV into every room in the house, and apparently had a surplus of telephone wire. Wire is wire, right? He had wired the new ceiling fans with 26 AWG TELEPHONE WIRE.
I sure hope whoever bought that house hired a home inspector.
I wonder what other Easter eggs lay in the wiring now. Blankety-blank previous owners...
It takes all kinds. I once saw an open house where the guy selling it was clearly an amateur electrician. He had put in new ceiling fans, and his favorite means of running wire was to drop wire from the attic into the closets, and nail a plastic junction box directly to drywall inside the closet, wires exposed. It gets better though; he had run telephone and cable TV into every room in the house, and apparently had a surplus of telephone wire. Wire is wire, right? He had wired the new ceiling fans with 26 AWG TELEPHONE WIRE.
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