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    Oneill474's Avatar
    Oneill474 Posts: 427, Reputation: 2
    Full Member
    		  
    #1

    Apr 10, 2008, 01:39 PM
    House fires
    I see some house fires were started at the outlet. They caught fire.
    I don't know the circumstances on each case.

    But can a outlet catch fire if nothing is plug into it??
    biggsie's Avatar
    biggsie Posts: 1,267, Reputation: 125
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    #2

    Apr 10, 2008, 02:33 PM
    I have had 1 outlet catch on fire -- believe it had a box fan plugged into it

    Not a pretty sight but I believe the fan was actually the cause

    In most cases it would need something plugged in to cause a fire

    It may be possible for rodents to cause a fire -- not impossible

    Maybe started a fire to keep warm -- just kidding
    stanfortyman's Avatar
    stanfortyman Posts: 5,598, Reputation: 279
    Electrical & Lighting Expert
    		  
    #3

    Apr 10, 2008, 03:01 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by biggsie
    In most cases it would need something plugged in to cause a fire
    Absolutely not!
    If a connection is bad at a receptacle in the middle of the run something can be plugged in two rooms away and cause the receptacle to fail. I should make it clear that the connection will fail. Receptacles themselves rarely fail.
    Backstab connections are infamous for this.
    eric34's Avatar
    eric34 Posts: 56, Reputation: 1
    Junior Member
    		  
    #4

    Apr 11, 2008, 11:42 PM
    Think of your cuicuit as a single line diagram.The hot runs from plug to plug to light to plug ETC.if you have a bad connection after the pigtail(at each plug)then this would be more believable.
    Stratmando's Avatar
    Stratmando Posts: 11,188, Reputation: 508
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    #5

    Apr 12, 2008, 06:38 AM
    Loose Connections Generate heat and can cause fires, can be any loose connection(s), Where plug plugs into receptacle, where wires connect to receptacle, wire connections.
    Loose or worn recepticles should be replaced to keep from damaging cord prongs.
    As far as a Fire with nothing plugged in, if there is no load(and no heat), it can't start a fire unless a short or other problem, a lizzard or something could get between the Hot and the Box and May start something(smoking, Fire?)
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