On Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:20:42 -0500, "Twayne"
wrote:

"Twayne" wrote in
message
...
"diane330s"
wrote
in message
om...


-------------------------------------

We recently bought a 30 year old home and it
has
developed an interesting electrical problem.
There is
one outlet in the basement that seems to
control
whether or not one side of the basement has
power or not. If
something (anything) is plugged into this
outlet the
outlets/lights have power. If we unplug from
that
outlet, so that there is nothing in it, and
then turn
on a light, it will flicker and that entire
side of the
basement loses power. As soon as we plug
something into
that outlet the power comes back to that
side. The
only thing that I know of that has recently
happened
is that the outlet immediately to the right
of the
"controlling" outlet had a nightlight short
circuit and
begin to melt the light sensor. The
"electrical fire"
smell was very strong in that area. That's
the only way
we figured out where the problem was. Has
anyone seen
anything like this before?


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More than likely the "controlling" outlet has
"back
stabbed" connections for the wires. If these
connections
are not installed correctly, they will act
just like
yours. Replace that outlet and make the
connections on
the screw terminals, then see if it solves the
problem

But what caused the "melted nightlight" and all
the
smell of burnt parts?
Maybe crappy Chinese nightlight

Ture, but ... in this situation it's something
that must be answered, IMO as the situation could
still exist.

I would ASSUME the crappy burned out night lite has been discarded, so
it is no longer a player in the equation.
Replace the suspect wiring devices and make sure the connections are
solid. Then, if it was an aluminum wiring or backstabber issue, have
someone competent replace ALL the wiring devices in the building with
quality devices, using screwdown connectors.
If the house has aluminum wiring, have CoALR devices installed,
bringing it up to code. Don't get talked into the crimp-on copper
pigtail route - it is overpriced and trouble prone.