"TKM" wrote in message
...

"Barry" wrote in message
m...
I was using a circular saw to cut some 4x8 sheets of 5/8" fiberboard (not
MDF, the less dense stuff). Halfway through my first cut of the day,
the
blade wound to a stop and the saw appeared dead. Checking the outside
outlet I was plugged in to I found a huge black scorch above it and half
of
the plug was melted. One of the prongs melted off and is stuck in the
socket. This outlet is located outside the house but underneath a
protected
entryway. The house is 10 years old and in good repair.

The saw is a 2hp 10amp. The cord is a heavy gauge (was) in good
condition,
40 feet long. Not sure the exact gauge of the cord but it's thicker
than
the average outside extension cord.

After this incident I plugged the saw into a different outlet (GFCI
protected in the garage) with a shorter but lighter gauge cord and
proceeded
without incedent to rip my five 4x8 sheets. The GFCI never tripped.

Is a 40 foot extension cord too long to run a 10amp saw with? If that's
not
it, does anyone have any thoughts on what the problem might be? Thanks
for
any help.


Electricity seems so gentle until something like this happens. You had a
short (likely) or an arc on one side of the line (less likely); but both
make things hot enough to melt metal instantly.

Once while remodeling an old carriage house, one of the electrical guys
wiring outlets inside the building dropped his screwdriver across one side
of the line and the neutral in the CB box. I happened to be outside
working
on the 3-wire feed lines. The current surge and resulting magnetic field
caused the lines to jump pulling them away from the building supports.
Fortunately, the inside guy was wearing safety glasses. There was molten
metal flying everywhere and the screwdriver disappeared. Scary.

TKM



Thanks to all for the tips. I'm going to install a new plug and secure the
wires underneath the screws, not the push in connectors.