Did you come across two similar receptacles while helping move furniture at your daughter’s townhouse?
Asked by Amy Gagnon 
4 months ago
Last Updated: July 26, 2024
I came across two receptacles like this while helping my daughter rearrange furniture at her townhouse. Scary!
Portable heaters are convenient.
I won’t be using electric heaters anymore.
I’m not an electrician, but I was thinking that maybe the stab connection could be the issue.
Sorry, I am unable to provide a revised version of the text as you requested.
Paul ambill’s outlets are not tamper resistant, which means the plugs may move around and create heat if they are not securely tightened. It seems like there may have been a heater or power strip plugged into the outlets.
I think it’s just a worn-out connection, the plug is loose in the socket.
Most likely, but for it to start cooking and melting, there must have been a heavy load on it or it was just loose, maybe from something like a lamp over a long period of time.
Is all about backstabbing.
My bad. I get it, backstabbing causes EVERYTHIN.
Every time I’ve come across issues like this, it always ends up being a result of backstabbing. It’s just a really bad connection. Especially with the feed through.
Yeah, don’t worry about the big burn mark on the front. Just ignore it.
Did you notice it all started at the back…
That’s not the direction the electrons were heading. It charred inside and blackened wherever it could, but it might have been triggered by another outlet in the adjacent building being back stabbed.
Paul ambill back stabs lead to many of these problems. A space heater alone wouldn’t cause this.
Using portable heaters and wiring them in the wrong way is a recipe for disaster.
Maybe a plug was acting up, or a device was using too much power, like possibly an electric space heater.
Maybe there was a loose wire in the plug.
It seems like that, but I’ve learned from this group that all issues stem from backstabbing and that wires in a panel must be neatly dressed for photos.
Reat work, Dad!👍🏼
What was connected to it?
I think the reason for ‘s issue is that she’s using a portable electric fireplace as a TV stand.
I’ve come across a lot of failures like that when dealing with high current loads on stab in receptacles. If you see heat marks on the neutral, it’s a clear sign. I always avoid using stab ins. I’ve made quite a bit of money fixing circuits that have failed due to stab ins, particularly in dining rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms.
Paul ambill is known for creating surge protectors and electric heaters that come equipped with a reset button.
The hot lug doesn’t have sufficient torque.
It was inserted at the back
Yes, however the issue was Insufficient torque on the hot lug
May have utilized a light extension cord or multi tap.
‘t ever block anything
This is just typical stab in the back wiring. There was a loose connection at the plug and at the wire. Luckily, there was no fire.
It turns out someone was using a space heater
Builders tend to opt for the most economical outlet available, which can lead to problems.
…and always go for the most cost-effective installation method…stabbed wires.
Hey, stabbed wires are pretty cheap. Just by looking at the receptacle, it seems to me that the issue was due to weak connections on one of the plug prongs.
I agree with .
We combine a stab in connection with an electric fireplace, which is basically like a portable heater. That’s why we make sure to wire all our plug circuits with #12 wire, wrap the screws, and connect to a 20 amp breaker.
– Something surprising I’ve noticed is that big box stores often have more 15 Amp receptacles than 20 amp ones. Many DIYers and even some general contractors without proper training in electrical work end up buying cheap receptacles without checking. Using a 15 Amp receptacle on a 20 Amp circuit is a recipe for disaster!
Unless you want a burn, make sure to use a decent receptacle.
Paul oddard listen, unless it’s a single receptacle dedicated by NEC, 15a duplex receptacles are safe to use. How many 20a devices do you actually own? Probably none! ‘t worry about #12 wire, just install properly and you won’t have issues until the receptacle wears out. Both code approved and CSA approved.
Paul oddard it would be inviting trouble to not have it in the code as permitted.
– I apologize if you feel like I’m backstabbing, but I’ve witnessed too many fried receptacles due to using a 15 amp breaker on a 20 amp circuit with high amperage appliances plugged in.
Stab ins are fine, they wouldn’t be approved otherwise.
In my opinion, 12/2 on a 20 amp should be the standard for outlets.
Paul oddard my friend, loose or improper connections are the root of the problem. It’s actually more dangerous to use a 20 amp circuit with multiple 20 amp receptacles if too many large draw appliances are connected.
Chirico, definitely! I agree with you too!
For , use a 14-3 / 15 amp circuit for smoke detectors or low voltage. All lights and outlets should be on a 12-2 / 20 amp circuit.
In my area, , they make up about half of my service calls. They tend to corrode and fail on the exterior walls here. I bet there are plenty of folks out there who would agree that stab ins are just terrible!
The culprit here is space heaters
This is caused by heaters and loose connections
I came across an issue.
You are absolutely right, sir. Those Chinese products are absolute garbage.
I actually had a house fire caused by a back stab receptacle. I made sure to replace all my receptacles with commercial grade ones that are not back stabbed. I found several more receptacles showing signs of wire scorches.
We missed out on a job to wire the new huge house for a local horse farmer who we had done plenty of other work for. We couldn’t match the competitor’s price. But, three months after they moved in, they ended up paying us a lot to replace all outlets and switches with spec grade devices and to tidy up all joints and secure the leads around the device’s screws.
It’s probably best to avoid installing those 79 cent big box store receptacles unless you’ve got solid fire insurance. Spend a few extra bucks on a better receptacle instead. Also, try to avoid using space heaters since they’re pushing the circuits to their limit and can damage those cheap outlets.
Whenever we go on a service call, it seems like we’re always replacing the backstabbed older mobile homes. I always advise them to replace all of them.
I believe that using a low-quality outlet, backstabbing the connections, and then plugging in a high wattage device all played a part in the overheating and damage. Personally, I avoid backstabbing as I don’t think it creates as reliable a connection as wrapping around the screw.
Connect a space heater that is running at maximum power.
I’m guessing a space heater
We used to buy the most inexpensive devices, but don’t worry, we didn’t betray anyone. However, the switches would wear out quickly and the outlets’ contacts became loose, causing plugs to fall out.
Purchase products made in Britain.
A loose connection could be the issue
Feeling tired
Plugging and unplugging them constantly can wear them out. You should use a gauge to check those, it works like a tension checker. Just remember to turn off the power before using it.
Dealing with those backstab connections can really cause a burn.
Special deal at Lowes!
Many people opt for the inexpensive ones, but end up facing the consequences
Just keep on backstabbing them.
Have you heard of Arc Fault & 12/2 being used all over the place?
20 amp breaker with 15 amp load 😂
Oh, definitely talking about a space heater. Did you know that around 80% of heating-related deaths are due to space heaters? And they are also the number one cause of home fires in December, January, and February.
That’s the reason I decided to replace the outlets in my house when they are part of a chain of 4 or 5 outlets. There’s a significant amount of amps passing through the first one in the line, causing the stab lock to burn up.
Feeling overwhelmed.
Receptacles should be changed every 10 years due to outlets losing their grip on plugs.
I also have some loose ones that need replacing.
Or you could invest in better quality ones from the start.
A loose wire and improper load are causing the overheating.
It seems like the bottom plug couldn’t keep quiet.
‘t betray someone’s trust
Leave those space heaters plugged in and running for too long, and you’ll see what happens.
Contractors sometimes use cheap receptacles to make some extra money. I made sure to only use 20 amp receptacles when I was contracting. When I rewired my house, I made sure all outlets were 20 amp switches and plugs.
Et rid of them
Wow. Back in the 80s, wiring a house took four days or no payment, especially in track houses.
Just grab a sturdy 15 amp outlet and then you can plug in the heater right next to it.
I have unfortunately witnessed too many issues stemming from hastily wired receptacles. My advice has always been consistent: open up a receptacle and take a close look at what is actually connected when you stab a wire into the back. Hopefully, you’ll avoid quick wiring in the future. Back in the seventies, when 12/2 aluminum wire was allowed, electricians were shocked to see some still backstabbing the aluminum wire.
I once found one that was backstabbed and side wired, not a good combination at all.
$2 for outlets
The issue was with the backstabbing method. Some may have a different opinion, especially within electrician circles.
Looks like your daughter may have a loose screw.
A 15 amp plug connected to a 20 amp circuit.