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View Full Version : I plugged in an old light and it sparked a bit from the outlet.


Irene999
Nov 3, 2010, 10:57 AM
Now my lights are not working in that area. The circuit breakers are okay. What could be the problem? Thanks for any help!

Stratmando
Nov 3, 2010, 11:01 AM
Breaker may be tripped, but not thrown, running finger down both breakers lightly can sometime reveal.
If power is coming out of all breakers, and it is not on the load side of a GFI, then it may have burnt open a bad connection. Check the first receptacle that works, or the first one in the string to locate.

smoothy
Nov 3, 2010, 11:01 AM
Call an electrician... you can kill yourself playing around there if you don't know fairly well what you are doing.

THere are a few possibilities, the worst of which is finding issues due to aluminum wiring used in the past depending on the age of the house.

But try to turn off and reset all the breakers first. YOU still have to find the cause of those sparks as it CAN cause an electrical fire pretty easily.

tkrussell
Nov 3, 2010, 11:37 AM
In addition to the advice you already have received, you should assume the light you plugged in is defective and caused the sparks, and have it checked before plugging in again.

What your immediate issue is to find how to restore power to the outlets.

Resetting the breakers or GFI outlets is something you can do.

If you cannot find any tripped, I agree with Strat that the short could have caused a poor connection to open someplace, and this will not be something you can find or repair, and I agree with Smoothy, time to call in an electrician.

Irene999
Nov 3, 2010, 11:43 AM
Thank you for all the advice. I think maybe calling an electrician is the best thing I can do.