outlet burning plugs

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01-20-03, 02:46 PM

jhevey

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outlet burning plugs

I have an outlet in my bathroom with a switch and one outlet. It has three wires running to it. The problem is that everything I plug into it starts to melt and look burnt. Any suggestions?

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01-20-03, 03:07 PM

John Nelson

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Did you just install this? I don't think you have enough wires for a receptacle here. Can you give us more info?

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01-20-03, 03:10 PM

jhevey

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This outlet has been in place since I moved in. It is an older house that was converted to 3 apartments.

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01-20-03, 04:27 PM

joed

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Could be the springs in the recepticle are loose and not making good contact with the devices being plugged in. Try replacing the device. Also if the wiring is via back stab connecton use the screws. Back stabs are notorious for poor connections.

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01-20-03, 04:50 PM

John Nelson

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Turn off the breaker. Remove the screws holding this device or devices (not sure from your post) to the box. Gently pull it (them) out of the box without disconnecting any wires. Tell us everything you see.

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01-20-03, 05:10 PM

Kooter

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I suspect he has a combination-type device (switch with a single receptacle on the same frame). The hot side of the receptacle also feeds one side of the switch (which is wire #1), neutral feeds the other silver side of the receptacle (which is wire #2) and then another wire feeds whatever the switch controls (which is wire #3). And the neutral wire [for whatever the switch controls] is not in the box where this combination-type device is located...and there is no ground because the wiring is old.

Combination-type device: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...1.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

Kooter

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01-21-03, 04:13 PM

jhevey

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Kooter describes it right. I put a new switch on and so far so good . But I am hoping that this is the cause of the problem. Thanks for the help.

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