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View Full Version : Heat blankets surged and house blowing many bulbs


stevo0001
Jan 21, 2009, 05:35 AM
Early this morning I was up late watching Max Payne the movie, and I heard this really loude pop sound next to the couch, immediately after that my heat blanket started getting really hot, so I turned it off and didn't think much of it. I actually thought the sound came from under the trailer and it sounded like something hit under my floor. So I went outside to see if an animal was under my home. While I was out their I went to fill up my wood furnace. Out of habbit I always make sure the thermostat is working, and this morning it wasn't working. So I thought my wife had unpluged it. I went back inside and right when I went into the bedroom I saw a big spark come from her heat blanket and I jumped back and unpluged it real quick. I reached over to turn the lamp on and immeadiatly the bulb blew. I went back out to the living room and that bulb blew. I know the bedroom and living room are on the same breaker and the breaker did not trip, I am going to try and fix it, any suggestions?

twinkiedooter
Jan 21, 2009, 06:08 PM
First off, how old is your trailer?

If this is an older trailer, I would highly recommend you getting an electrician who knows what he's doing. The Fire Dept recommends that with older trailers a licensed electrician should perform any testing and repairs as they have been to too many trailer fires where the homeowner had repaired the problem themselves only to burn the house down literally.

The problem is the wiring inside your walls.

andrewc24301
Jan 21, 2009, 07:51 PM
I agree with t-dooter, if the trailer was made way back in the 60's or 70's it could have aluminum wiring.

But in the mean time, if you have a volt meter, I'd check the voltage on any working outlet.

It almost sounds like you are getting a high voltage. A high voltage may not cause a breaker to trip right away, but it can cause things like elements (in an electric blanket) and filiments in bulbs to burn out.

Check an outlet for 110-120 volts, check a 240 volt outlet (like a drier) what are your readings? If they are too high, you may want to call the power company, and have them check your incoming voltage.