- Location
- Lockport, IL
- Occupation
- Retired Electrical Engineer
First let me state that all receptacles in our kitchen will be replaced by an electrical contractor during a complete kitchen remodel that starts in about 3 weeks. So this is not a DIY situation.
Two days ago, my wife plugged in a crock pot (in the lower half of a duplex receptacle), turned it on, and saw sparks flying. The breaker tripped, there is black discoloration on the receptacle itself (I haven’t tried to clean it yet – it might just be on the surface), there is damage to the plug, and the wire entering the pot is almost completely burnt through. She is fine. The crock pot has been discarded. The light that is plugged into the upper half of the same duplex is still working.
Question: Is there likely to be a safety hazard? Should we avoid plugging anything into the lower half of this duplex? Should we unplug the light, and avoid using the duplex entirely? Three weeks from now it will no longer matter. But if the receptacle is still functional and safe, then I will clean the outside and let things be plugged into it.
Two days ago, my wife plugged in a crock pot (in the lower half of a duplex receptacle), turned it on, and saw sparks flying. The breaker tripped, there is black discoloration on the receptacle itself (I haven’t tried to clean it yet – it might just be on the surface), there is damage to the plug, and the wire entering the pot is almost completely burnt through. She is fine. The crock pot has been discarded. The light that is plugged into the upper half of the same duplex is still working.
Question: Is there likely to be a safety hazard? Should we avoid plugging anything into the lower half of this duplex? Should we unplug the light, and avoid using the duplex entirely? Three weeks from now it will no longer matter. But if the receptacle is still functional and safe, then I will clean the outside and let things be plugged into it.