[gt1935]

Had a 5/6 surge outlet strip plugged into a receptacle. Needed to use this receptacle for something else temporarily. Disconnected the strip and connected it to another outlet with an extension cord. These two outlets are not on the same circuit. The strip had a router/modem plugged into it nothing else. Plugged the strip in and sat down. Couple of minutes later heard a noise and flash. Looked at the strip the modem plug was barely into the strip. Assuming the loose connection between the strip and plug caused this? Tried the strip and plugged the modem back and the strip made a click and small flash.

However, the breaker did not trip and decided to check that circuit. Looked in junctions boxes, receptacles and switches on that circuit. One switch that controls a light only, had a burnt neutral wire. There is only a hot, neutral and ground in the switch box.

Did the outlet strip cause this? Why did the breaker not trip? Why would this burn a neutral wire in a switch not the receptacle itself? Wires need to be replaced? Thanks for any help.

 

[AllanJ]

"There was only one hot, one neutral, and one ground in the switch box."

Actually the "neutral" in the switchbox was really a hot wire.

Where was it burnt? Can you show us a picture?

There was probably a loose connection where the wire in the switch box was burnt, a separate topic and independent issue from the flash and noise in the outlet strip.

Loose connections can develop a lot of heat without drawing a lot of power (watts) and without tripping a breaker.

If you can pull the plug out of an outlet (receptacle) very easily then there will be loose connections where the prongs insert into the receptacle.

 

[gt1935]

Cant get pics at the moment. However, the white/neutral at the switch was discolored not melted about 4" or so. The connection was not loose. Checked the light junction box wires. The white from the switch connected to the incoming black wire at the junction box was discolored. This connection was solid. The wire nut from the white from the light to the white from the incoming power was wrapped with electrical tape. The nut came off with no resistance at all. The wire nut did not wrap the two wires hardly at all. Stripped the discolored portions of the wires and respliced. The light is a round fluorescent bulb. Turned light on and noticed the light did not come on but could see the bulb trying to light and then the light came on. Could this type of delay discolor the wires at the switch and junction box? Thanks again.