I've got an electric heater that I'm using. I've noticed that the cord gets hot... not too hot, but very warm. Also when I unplug it, it sparks a little at the outlet. What causes this? Do I need to be alarmed?

Many thanks in advance for anyone's response!

TTAR81:: - Is this a 220 space heater,or a 110?? >really it don't make a difference, both can be dangers if it's a short. Most of the time when one sparks like that , Iv'e found that the heater,was drawing power at the time it was unplugged or a short in the cord . When the cord gets hot it is mainley caused when it is drawing a lot of amps. or has been on ( giving out heat). What you need to do is check out the cord for a short, and if you really need the space heater before you have it checked out by a appliance service place or an electrician,( I'd watch it really close) DON'T LEAVE IT ON AND LEAVE THE HOUSE< OR GO TO BED < AND LEAVE IT ON OR PLUGGED UP >::: GOOD LUCK< AND STAY SAFE:::: F.B.E.

Well I've got the heater connected to a drop cord and plugged in the wall... the drop cord is new, so I'm assuming the drop cord has no short. I'm pretty sure it's 220, but not 100% sure. When I just unplugged it, the cord was hot and blue sparks flew from the plug-in.

Thanks for your response and concern... and no, I won't leave it on or plugged up unattended.

Ttara81- when you unplug the cord from the receotical is the heater in the on position?? I want you to try this ,( disconnrct the heater from the extension cord, then unplug the cord from the wall receptical and see if it still sparks as before!! I still think you have a short in your heater it self. (THE LONGER YOU MAKE THE CORD <THE HOTTER IT WILL PROBLEY GET) If you are running it full blast for quite awhile, it's going to start getting warm, sometimes it can get prety hot this way, because you'er drawing quite a few amps doing this. At a Rental house I used to take care of , the renter called me about 11 pm one night, his potorable heater(220) would not work ,When I checked it the insulation was melted off the actual wires, burnt the carpet, tripped the breaker. I had warned him about running the heater on full blast quite awhile at a time. Anyhow try what I just said and let me know Stay ,good luck GOD BLESS> F.B.E.

Yes, I have been just unplugging the heater while the heater is "on". I tried cutting the heater off before unplugging and I did not see any blue sparks. **UPDATE** Today I was sitting in the living room with the heater on. I kept hearing a weird noise, but didn't know what it was. Then I heard a "sizzling" noise and I looked up and there was smoke coming from where the heater is connected to the drop cord! I jumped up and unplugged it from the wall. After it had cooled off, I tried to unplug the heater from the drop cord and the plug to the heater was melted into the drop cord and I had to literally pry it out with a screw driver. Since that happened today, I have just put the heater to the side and have quit using it. Thank God I just happened to be sitting there when this happened. If I had been in the kitchen cooking, or in the bathroom, I would not have noticed the smoking and it would have caught on fire... I'm just thanking the Lord right now! So what happened?

Drop cord and extension cord should not be used, they are usually undersized.
A new end may need to go on heater. If it is burnt, and you plug into good receptacle, it will destroy receptacle. Important that a good connection between heater plug and receptacle.
Sparks will occur if plugging/unplugging while On and will harm cord and receptacle.
Stay Safe.

Was it the heater cord itself that was getting hot, or just the drop cord? The heater should have come with a heavy enough cord it wouldn't heat up. If you must use it with a drop cord, find one of the heavy ones meant for air conditioners.

TTara81 - Im sure glad you were at and could see it happen, like you said (THE GOOD LORD WAS WITH YOU TODAY) give thanks. :: Now I hope you have smoke alarms up in the areas they need to be. Read my last anmswer from last night. I always teel people that extension are very dangers and should be outlawed. ( Before YOU USE THAT HEATER AGAIN <EVEN AFTER YOU HAVE A NEW CORD PUT ON < HAVE THE HEATER CHECKED< REALLY GOOD< TELL THE REPAIR PERSON WHAT IT WAS DOING<SO THEY WILL HAVE A GOOD IDEA AS TO WHAT THE ACTUAL CAUSE WAS AND CAN FIX IT> STAY SAFE<GOOD LUCK& GOD BLESS::::: F.B.E. P.S. LET us all know what you find out::::::

I am sure if you read the instructions for the heater, you will find that the unit should not be used with an extension cord.

While outlawing extension cords entirely is a bit drastic and idealistic, caution must be used by consumers when and extension cord is used.

Where a plug is connected to an outlet is just one more connection point that will heat up, esp.with heater loads, along with the added resistance of the longer wire in the cord.

If all extension cords are eliminated, what does someone with a portable tool do with a six foot cord on the tool?

And no electrical device should be unplugged while the load is on. With high load devices, there will always be sparking at the break point. Switches are designed to break loads and eliminate this typical sparking.

Anytime an extension cord is used, the reason must be considered and the device being plugged into the cord must be rated to be operated on a cord.

Read all instructions for any appliance that uses an extension cord.

Good evening Tkrussell, Im not talking about reg extension cords,that are used out side for oower tools ,weedeaters. etc. etc. I was meaning power cords used on appliances , used inside the home and are under rated, and small gauge wire. By the way the picture I told You about, Iv'e got a camare now ,Ive got to see how to send it to you. I do agree with your post above this one . Have a good day & GOD BLESS> ;;; F.B.E.

Years ago, one of my mentors complained the only thing people look at is the length of an extension cord. In too many cases, yes.

Wattage of heater?
Voltage of Heater?

Wire Gage of drop cord (should be written on the cord)?

And agree, no appliance should be unplugged when on. Evan my hair dryer will spark at the socket if plugged in or removed when on.

Thanks to all of you all for replying and offering your information. The heater was given to me so I don't have any instructions for it. It's just a small heater, probably costing $25-$30... it has a switch on it where you can choose to heat using 1250 or 1500 watts. I hooked it up to a regular 6ft extension cord because it wouldn't reach the outlet from the area where I had placed it in the living room. Do you all think the electrical wiring in the house may have anything to do with it? I live in a house that's at least 40yrs old.

You need a 14 AWG extension cord. Anything with a larger number will get hot. e.g 16 AWG.
Assuming power is 120 V.

Something like this:

Coleman Cable 6 Ft. 14/3 Air Conditioner Extension Cord - 03532-33-23 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100084483&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_sku=100084483&ci_src=17588969&cm_mmc=1hd.com2froogle-_-product_feed-_-D27X-_-100084483)

OK.. the extension cord I'm using says: AWG 16/2 SPT-2 13 AMPS 125 VOLTS 1625 WATTS... so what does all this mean?

I would use a #12 gauge cord on heater, especially any length.
1500 Watts/120 volts =12.5 Amps.
Earlier, I said no cord as most will not get the Heavy Cord, but something that will reach.

The numbers:
AWG 16/2 SPT-2 13 AMPS 125 VOLTS 1625 WATTS

AWG is American wire Gage, #16, 2 conductors

As the number gets smaller, the wire diameter gets bigger. As the wire diameter gets bigger, the amount of current it can safely handle gets larger.


The SPT-2 tells us a little about the cord.
For instance, it tells us it's a zip cord.
It's PVC insulation.
It's rated for 300 V
It's 60 Centigrade cord because it's 16/2
And it tells us what the expected use is:
For use in household appliances, including
clocks, fans, and radios as well as lamps.

60 C is a relatatively low termperature rated cord and not the one to use for a heater.

http://www.aiwc.com/catalogsection/catalogpdfs/pccatalog/Type_SPT1_SPT2_SPT3_LampCord.pdf


125 V seems to be consumerized. It's real rating is 300 V. So we'll take the 125 VAC to mean, it should be used with 120 V gizmos.

13 A says it can handle 13 Amps.

1625 Watts Normally isn't a specification for a cord. On the surface, 1625 Watts is larger than 1500 W, the wattage of the heater, so one might expect the cord would be OK.

It's really not OK due to the temperature rating of the cord and the application.

When wires are placed in the wall the National Electric Code says, that any load that is going to run more than 3 hours at a time must be de-rated which would mean, you should be looking for a cord that is rated for 1500W * 1.25 or 1875 Watts.

Power (watts) = Voltage (V) / Current (I) in this application.

1875/125 puts us a 15 amps for a cord. This puts us exactly at 14 AWG.

Thus Strat's suggestion of a 12 AWG cord is a very good one. A 12 AWG cord would be rated for 20 Amps and would VERY LIKELY have 2 slotted blades in different orientations, but would also be able to accept a plug rated at 15 Amps.

You would have to look at your wall outlet to determine if one of the sockets looks like a sideways "T". When the "T" is on the other side, it's a 240 volt plug.

The moral of the story is the jacket surrounding the wire thermally insulates the cord and your operating the heater with one that isn't appropriately rated for that application.

So, if your outlet will accept a 20 Amp/120 V plug then a 12 AWG cord would be a better cord to use.

In any event, the heavy duty cord that I suggested would be the minimum appropriate for the application.

Don't unplug or plug in the heater with it on.

KISS

TTara81- I agree with stratmando on the 12 gauge wire cord, letmetellyousimplestupid- is right also , I know it sounds kind of stupid but it is not,( but like I tell my doctor when he snows me in ( Tell me in laymans langash). It sounds to me like the heater you have is a 110, not 220, there should be a decal on it telling what the voltage is for that heater is (110 OR 220 ) check before plugging back in, also check to see if the receptical you are plugging into is a ( 110 or 220 receptical ) If you can not check these things out , have a friend that can, or call a electrician to came out and check things out for you. Better to be (safe), then sorry. MOST HOME FIRES IN THE USA EVERY YEAR IS CAUSED BY ( Electrical ) I think it's about 83%. I'm not trying to scare you ,just trying to give you some true facts, Have a Good day , Stay Safe & GOD BLESS. ::: F.B.E.

As I said back in post #7:


Was it the heater cord itself that was getting hot, or just the drop cord? The heater should have come with a heavy enough cord it wouldn't heat up. If you must use it with a drop cord, find one of the heavy ones meant for air conditioners.

Labman,
Both were hot... but the drop cord was hotter. Do you all think that the electrical wiring in the house may have an effect on this? The house is at least 40 yrs old...

A 1500 watt heater is slightly too large for the common 15 amp circuit wired up with #14 wire in your house. Understand, the bigger the number, the smaller the wire. Even if it is a 15 amp circuit, the voltage drop isn't going to be very much, and would actually result in the heater drawing slightly lower power. I doubt the house wiring has anything to with it. I am a little disturbed the heater cord itself is heating up. Does it have a label on it?

I have a couple of the heavy duty cords mean for window A/C units, but neither is marked with its size. I am sure it would at least be on the packaging at the store.

Is the heater plug OK? If it is blackened, just scrape the black off. If part of it is burned away, better replace it.

Listen to what tkrussell said about not unplugging things when they are on. Actually, listen to everything he said.

The biggest problem with 40 year old wiring is that it may not have the ground you need for 3 prong plugs to protect you the way they should.

Labman,
None of my outlets are equipped for 3 prong plugs... so I use the 3 prong extender thing... well, I've just retired the heater all together... I don't want to take any more chances... we're using the fireplace for our source of heat and I've just put the heater to the side... thanks for all of your information and suggestions!! God Bless you... ♥♥