Plug & Socket HOT

Posted by =?UTF-8?B?4oCTIENvbG9uZWwg4oCT on December 22, 2005, 7:21 pm

OK, I know just enough about electricity to be dangerous, but this one
has me stumped.

Today I had an oil convection electric heater (1500W) turned on in the
bathroom to heat up the room before taking a shower, and when I
unplugged it, I noticed the prongs of the plug were HOT. Probably like
175°F hot...almost too hot to touch. Then I put my hand on the socket
and that was hot, too.

Yet the cord to the heater wasn't even warm.

If the heater uses 1500W I assume that at 125V my load is about 12A...right?

It's an old house but the wiring is modern Romex.

Why would the prongs of the plug and the socket get so hot? Resistance
in the plug? (The plug APPEARS undamaged, and we always pull it out by
grabbing the plug, not the wire).

Should I put a new plug onto the cord?

Is it likely there was resistance or a bad connection in the socket?

Thanks for any clues.

C

Posted by RBM on December 22, 2005, 7:26 pm

It is possible that the internal contacts on the outlet are loose, or the
wires connecting the outlet are loose. Also possibly wires inside the plug
are frayed or otherwise not making good contact

> OK, I know just enough about electricity to be dangerous, but this one has
> me stumped.
> Today I had an oil convection electric heater (1500W) turned on in the
> bathroom to heat up the room before taking a shower, and when I unplugged
> it, I noticed the prongs of the plug were HOT. Probably like 175°F
> hot...almost too hot to touch. Then I put my hand on the socket and that
> was hot, too.
> Yet the cord to the heater wasn't even warm.
> If the heater uses 1500W I assume that at 125V my load is about
> 12A...right?
> It's an old house but the wiring is modern Romex.
> Why would the prongs of the plug and the socket get so hot? Resistance in
> the plug? (The plug APPEARS undamaged, and we always pull it out by
> grabbing the plug, not the wire).
> Should I put a new plug onto the cord?
> Is it likely there was resistance or a bad connection in the socket?
> Thanks for any clues.
> C
>

Posted by on December 22, 2005, 7:51 pm

Anytime I have installed an electrical outlet I make the connections by
screwing them down snugly. I have found that contractors tend to take
the fast way out which is to strip the wires and shove thm into the
back side of the outlet which may be fine 95$ of the time but when you
are drawing high amperage its better to have them screwed down.

--JE

Posted by on December 22, 2005, 7:51 pm

There has to be more than normal resistance in the plug and/or the
outlet. I'd examine the plug for any problems. Then I'd try plugging
it in another outlet. If it works there without getting hot, I'd
investigate the outlet. Could possibly be corrosion, especially since
it's in the bathroom, or a loose connection at the outlet.

Posted by Colbyt on December 22, 2005, 7:56 pm

> It is possible that the internal contacts on the outlet are loose, or the
> wires connecting the outlet are loose. Also possibly wires inside the plug
> are frayed or otherwise not making good contact

This is good advise. How tight does the outlet feel when plugging
unplugging stuff.

Also if the blades on the heater cord are the "folded" metal type as opposed
to solid you might try spreading them a bit for better contact.

Colbyt

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Plug & Socket HOT - Why?