Small electric question

37chief · Mar 14, 2016

My daughters house tripped a circuit breaker. One room is effected. Upon inspection of a wall plug, I noticed the ground prong on a power strip cord, had shorted to something, but what? The wall receptacle also had a black mark right next to the cover screw. I am at a loss as what may have caused the short. Would dust cause a short? Any ideas? Stan

JML755 · Mar 14, 2016

(quoted from post at 15:24:43 03/14/16) My daughters house tripped a circuit breaker. One room is effected. Upon inspection of a wall plug, I noticed the ground prong on a power strip cord, had shorted to something, but what? The wall receptacle also had a black mark right next to the cover screw. I am at a loss as what may have caused the short. Would dust cause a short? Any ideas? Stan

Hard to say. Take the outlet out and inspect everything. Take the power strip apart, inspect it. I'm sure you'll find out whatever was causing the problem or if you don't, toss the power strip. Test the outlet with another device (lamp?) . I doubt that dust could cause much of an arc to trip a breaker, unless the dust contained metal shavings. :wink:

Dave H (MI) · Mar 14, 2016

Is it an old house or new? There is always the possibility that the receptacle itself failed in some way. I would consider rewiring that particular box if it is suspect. Try the power strip out in a different part of the house.

dr sportster · Mar 14, 2016

A mark on the cover as you describe may indicate a receptacle problem and I would replace that. If the mark looked to me to be from an appliance plugged in and not internal smoke I would reset the breaker and look at appliances that were plugged in at that point.

Steve@Advance · Mar 14, 2016

There is probably a direct short inside the power strip. When it was plugged in, it arced the face of the receptacle.

It probably didn't do the receptacle any good, replace it if you want.

But try the power strip again before you replace the receptacle in case it does it again so you don't arc the new one.

If the strip has the surge protection circuitry, might want to discard it, especially if it's powering anything sensitive.

John B. · Mar 14, 2016

What ever was plugged into the power strip and or the power strip may have a short in it causing the current to flow thru the ground (3rd prong).

buickanddeere · Mar 15, 2016

Test all receptacles with one of those polarity testing units.

Small electric question

37chief

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JML755

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Dave H (MI)

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dr sportster

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Steve@Advance

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John B.

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buickanddeere

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