View Full Version : Kitchen island wiring burned under tile floor
mallicin
Sep 9, 2015, 08:10 PM
After sparks under kitchen sink when switching a breaker back on, burned wire was found where both the water lines and electrical lines go into the concrete floor. Due to the wire going under the tile floor, I need a mason before an electrician can fix the issue correct?
smoothy
Sep 9, 2015, 08:18 PM
Aren't the wires run in conduit?
donf
Sep 10, 2015, 03:14 AM
By "concrete floor", do you mean the "foundation slab" covered over by ceramic tile?
Your best bet would be to have a licensed electrician look at the circuit and determine how best to fix the issue. Cables don't just burn. There is a reason, for example using 14 AWG conductors for a 20 amp circuit.
Can you give us a better description of what the failure is, please? Just telling us that sparks were seen (indication of a direct short) is not enough. For example, if this circuit is uses GFCI protected receptacles, did they also trip out? Did the circuit breaker immediately trip off? Are you still using the circuit to power the receptacles on the island?
stanfortyman
Sep 10, 2015, 04:55 AM
Cables don't just burn. There is a reason, for example using 14 AWG conductors for a 20 amp circuit.
Can you give us a better description of what the failure is, please? Just telling us that sparks were seen (indication of a direct short) is not enough. For example, if this circuit is uses GFCI protected receptacles, did they also trip out? Did the circuit breaker immediately trip off? Are you still using the circuit to power the receptacles on the island?#14 on a 20A breaker will not burn or short out a cable.
We need to find out where the sparks were and why. This sounds more like physical damage than anything.
donf
Sep 10, 2015, 07:12 AM
Agreed, I was just giving some examples.