Alright i'm just going to go ahead and establish the fact that i dont
know
anything about electric, so please keep the technical jargon to a
minimum. I'd appreciate it. Well okay the problem.

You see everytime i plug this heater in with another appliance the
outlet
doesn't work any more, or suddenly stops working. Well one day i had
the heater in with another appliace and it made half the outlets in
the
room unusable. Well i went down to the garage and turned off the
curcuits
breakers and cut them back on. When i went upstairs they still didn't
work
&& the lights dont seem to work either. The thing is though, non of
the lights
were on it was, the middle of the day their was no use for them. I
dont
understand why this is screwing up to much.

I know i probably need an electrician but i'd just like some people
who know
what they're doing to reassure me i do.

You need an electrician NOW. Your house may be about to burn down.

On Feb 24, 4:02 pm, wrote:
Alright i'm just going to go ahead and establish the fact that i dont
know
anything about electric, so please keep the technical jargon to a
minimum. I'd appreciate it. Well okay the problem.

You see everytime i plug this heater in with another appliance the
outlet
doesn't work any more, or suddenly stops working. Well one day i had
the heater in with another appliace and it made half the outlets in
the
room unusable. Well i went down to the garage and turned off the
curcuits
breakers and cut them back on. When i went upstairs they still didn't
work
&& the lights dont seem to work either. The thing is though, non of
the lights
were on it was, the middle of the day their was no use for them. I
dont
understand why this is screwing up to much.

I know i probably need an electrician but i'd just like some people
who know
what they're doing to reassure me i do.

Yes, you need an electrician. This sounds like a grounding problem
and it can be very serious.

wrote in message
ups.com...

You see everytime i plug this heater in with another appliance the
outlet
doesn't work any more, or suddenly stops working.

You are overloading the circuit and the breaker is tripping. Stop doing
that.


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"Old Mac User" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Feb 24, 4:02 pm, wrote:
Alright i'm just going to go ahead and establish the fact that i dont
know
anything about electric, so please keep the technical jargon to a
minimum. I'd appreciate it. Well okay the problem.

You see everytime i plug this heater in with another appliance the
outlet
doesn't work any more, or suddenly stops working. Well one day i had
the heater in with another appliace and it made half the outlets in
the
room unusable. Well i went down to the garage and turned off the
curcuits
breakers and cut them back on. When i went upstairs they still didn't
work
&& the lights dont seem to work either. The thing is though, non of
the lights
were on it was, the middle of the day their was no use for them. I
dont
understand why this is screwing up to much.

I know i probably need an electrician but i'd just like some people
who know
what they're doing to reassure me i do.

Yes, you need an electrician. This sounds like a grounding problem
and it can be very serious.


Electric heaters usually draw heavy current. If the circuit that the heater is
plugged into has a loose connection somewhere between the heater and the circuit
breaker, there will be significant voltage drop at the loose connection. The
insidious thing about that is that there will be considerable heat generated at
that point... likely sufficient heat to cause a fire.

Get an electrician pronto!!!

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters in the
address)

Some days you're the dog, some days the hydrant.

"DaveM" wrote in message
. ..

He doesn't understand that you can't reset the breakers while the overload
still exists.


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"DaveM" wrote in message
. ..
"Old Mac User" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Feb 24, 4:02 pm, wrote:
Alright i'm just going to go ahead and establish the fact that i dont
know
anything about electric, so please keep the technical jargon to a
minimum. I'd appreciate it. Well okay the problem.

You see everytime i plug this heater in with another appliance the
outlet
doesn't work any more, or suddenly stops working. Well one day i had
the heater in with another appliace and it made half the outlets in
the
room unusable. Well i went down to the garage and turned off the
curcuits
breakers and cut them back on. When i went upstairs they still didn't
work
&& the lights dont seem to work either. The thing is though, non of
the lights
were on it was, the middle of the day their was no use for them. I
dont
understand why this is screwing up to much.

I know i probably need an electrician but i'd just like some people
who know
what they're doing to reassure me i do.

Yes, you need an electrician. This sounds like a grounding problem
and it can be very serious.


Electric heaters usually draw heavy current. If the circuit that the
heater is plugged into has a loose connection somewhere between the heater
and the circuit breaker, there will be significant voltage drop at the
loose connection. The insidious thing about that is that there will be
considerable heat generated at that point... likely sufficient heat to
cause a fire.

Get an electrician pronto!!!

--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just substitute the appropriate characters
in the address)

Some days you're the dog, some days the hydrant.


There are many things which have auxiliary inputs on them - some VCRs,
Radios, Etc....... I am curious - just what did he "plug the heater into" -
to power it? NONE of those devices are made for that kind of abuse. Many of
the cheap power strips won't even handle it. As stated above - heaters drain
current. The "devices" it was plugged into - probably have melted
connections - luckily they didn't catch fire.

I agree, if he plugged it into the wall outlet and still nothing - get help
FAST. While you're at it, if you still live in the place, install a smoke
detector to get your family out just in case. Should have a Smoke Detector
in home - anyway. That electrical problem is a fire waiting to happen.

I can't tell you how many "electrical" fires I've helped extinguish in the
last year - many of which caused extensive damage. Too many to keep count.
DO NOT PLAY with that problem. GET HELP.

I would like to reassure you that you need an electrician. I suspect you
have "back stabbed" outlets. The wires were stuck into holes in the back
of the outlet instead of wrapped around the screws. This is
unfortuantely perfectly acceptabe to UL, the NEC and most electricians.
However it is a cheezy practice that causes high resistance. If you plug
in a big load like a heater, the wires heat up and toast the insulation.
I am fixing those in this house I am in. Finding insulation cooked 3
inches from the outlet,

wrote:

Alright i'm just going to go ahead and establish the fact that i dont
know
anything about electric, so please keep the technical jargon to a
minimum. I'd appreciate it. Well okay the problem.

You see everytime i plug this heater in with another appliance the
outlet
doesn't work any more, or suddenly stops working. Well one day i had
the heater in with another appliace and it made half the outlets in
the
room unusable. Well i went down to the garage and turned off the
curcuits
breakers and cut them back on. When i went upstairs they still didn't
work
&& the lights dont seem to work either. The thing is though, non of
the lights
were on it was, the middle of the day their was no use for them. I
dont
understand why this is screwing up to much.

I know i probably need an electrician but i'd just like some people
who know
what they're doing to reassure me i do.




--
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

"Follow The Money" ;-P

"**THE-RFI-EMI-GUY**" wrote in message
...

I would like to reassure you that you need an electrician. I suspect you
have "back stabbed" outlets. The wires were stuck into holes in the back
of the outlet instead of wrapped around the screws.

This is OK for lighting but it is lunatic for power outlets.


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wrote:
Alright i'm just going to go ahead and establish the fact that i dont
know
anything about electric, so please keep the technical jargon to a
minimum. I'd appreciate it. Well okay the problem.

You see everytime i plug this heater in with another appliance the
outlet
doesn't work any more, or suddenly stops working. Well one day i had
the heater in with another appliace and it made half the outlets in
the
room unusable. Well i went down to the garage and turned off the
curcuits
breakers and cut them back on. When i went upstairs they still didn't
work
&& the lights dont seem to work either. The thing is though, non of
the lights
were on it was, the middle of the day their was no use for them. I
dont
understand why this is screwing up to much.

I know i probably need an electrician but i'd just like some people
who know
what they're doing to reassure me i do.

You have an issue with the circuit that is in that room.
After reading your message here, i would suggest you hire an
electrician very soon other wise, the next message you'll be sending
will be to one of your relatives (that's still alive)! if you get my
meaning!


--
"I'm never wrong, once i thought i was, but was mistaken"
Real Programmers Do things like this.
http://webpages.charter.net/jamie_5

"Homer J Simpson" wrote in message
news:KP3Eh.132264$Oa.120600@edtnps82...

"DaveM" wrote in message
. ..

He doesn't understand that you can't reset the breakers while the overload
still exists.

That may be it. Quick solution is to stop using that heater. But all the
advice about calling an electrician still holds. There may be a very
hazardous problem with the wiring.

mc wrote:
"Homer J Simpson" wrote in message
news:KP3Eh.132264$Oa.120600@edtnps82...
"DaveM" wrote in message
. ..

He doesn't understand that you can't reset the breakers while the overload
still exists.

That may be it. Quick solution is to stop using that heater. But all the
advice about calling an electrician still holds. There may be a very
hazardous problem with the wiring.

Hi...

Gives me flashbacks to the horror days of aluminum.

I'll second or third or wherever we're at to the motion to get an
electrician as soon as possible.

Meantime, plug in as little as possible. Turn on as few lights, etc.,
as possible.

At outlets that do have things plugged in and turned on, use the palm of
your hand to feel around the outlet, feeling for unexpected warmth.
Do the same at light switches that are turned on.

Check and double check the batteries in your smoke detectors.

And get it checked. Now.

Take care.

Ken

This sounds like a grounding or neutral return problem. I strongly suggest a
qualified electrician. There can be serious safety hazard risks with bad
electrical wiring and installations.

--

JANA
_____


wrote in message
ups.com...
Alright i'm just going to go ahead and establish the fact that i dont
know
anything about electric, so please keep the technical jargon to a
minimum. I'd appreciate it. Well okay the problem.

You see everytime i plug this heater in with another appliance the
outlet
doesn't work any more, or suddenly stops working. Well one day i had
the heater in with another appliace and it made half the outlets in
the
room unusable. Well i went down to the garage and turned off the
curcuits
breakers and cut them back on. When i went upstairs they still didn't
work
&& the lights dont seem to work either. The thing is though, non of
the lights
were on it was, the middle of the day their was no use for them. I
dont
understand why this is screwing up to much.

I know i probably need an electrician but i'd just like some people
who know
what they're doing to reassure me i do.

"Ken Weitzel" wrote in message
news:XE8Eh.1132527$5R2.204204@pd7urf3no...

Gives me flashbacks to the horror days of aluminum.

I lived in an apartment building wired with all aluminum. Whoever the
electrician was he did a first class job. Everything was done to code or
beyond and there was never a problem.

I worked in a commercial building also so wired. When half the lights and
outlets failed I went out to the outside switch room and peeked in. I only
had to hear the arcing sounds for a coupe of seconds to know to get the hell
out of there. We called the owner who called in a team to work on the place.
I'd already noticed that some of the outlets seemed to be warmer than
expected but since it was none of my business I'd let it alone!

Thus spake JANA:

This sounds like a grounding or neutral return problem. I strongly suggest a
qualified electrician. There can be serious safety hazard risks with bad
electrical wiring and installations.

OK, he needs an electrician, pronto.

But why does it sound like a neutral or ground problem? Couldn't it as well
be a problem with a hot conductor failing to make connection?

Is it because more than one outlet and lights too failed that points to a
neutral conductor? Being a common element among several circuits?

Thanks,
--
Al, the usual

Usual Suspect wrote:

Thus spake JANA:


This sounds like a grounding or neutral return problem. I strongly suggest a
qualified electrician. There can be serious safety hazard risks with bad
electrical wiring and installations.


OK, he needs an electrician, pronto.

But why does it sound like a neutral or ground problem? Couldn't it as well
be a problem with a hot conductor failing to make connection?

Is it because more than one outlet and lights too failed that points to a
neutral conductor? Being a common element among several circuits?

Thanks,
It's common to have romix or what ever used at the time to feed and
outlet and from there, feed the rest of the room, many times a wire can
be loose causing arching which maybe to main supply feed circuit for the
rest of the room..
You don't want this arching which indicates a poor connections which
in turn, causing heat to build up and then you know to rest of the story.
If you're lucky, it will simply burn away the connection with out
incident .


--
"I'm never wrong, once i thought i was, but was mistaken"
Real Programmers Do things like this.
http://webpages.charter.net/jamie_5

Yes best get someone who knows how to fix that .
It sounds like its an older house . Many times things were added by
people that are not up to code .
Inside each electric outlet box wires can run one to another box inside
the wall . Sometimes when the average Joe adds on he might add to many
boxes and light fixtures from one to another using to small of wire ,
not tightning screws good enough or not tightning wire nuts enough
causing an overload then burned off wires.
If thats the case then where the wires start from all the things that
stopped working probably burned off inside a box or breaker panel or in
the wall .

I had a problem in my last house. During the winter, my wife put a 1KW
space heater in the garage for the dog, and the TV in the living room
started to act up. I found the voltage low at the TV and all the outlets
in the room "rather warm". The wiring was backstabbed throughout the
string of outlets reight out to the last one in the garage!

Homer J Simpson wrote:

"**THE-RFI-EMI-GUY**" wrote in message
.. .



I would like to reassure you that you need an electrician. I suspect you
have "back stabbed" outlets. The wires were stuck into holes in the back
of the outlet instead of wrapped around the screws.



This is OK for lighting but it is lunatic for power outlets.





--
Joe Leikhim K4SAT
"The RFI-EMI-GUY"©

"Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

"Follow The Money" ;-P

"**THE-RFI-EMI-GUY**" wrote in message
...

I had a problem in my last house. During the winter, my wife put a 1KW
space heater in the garage for the dog, and the TV in the living room
started to act up. I found the voltage low at the TV and all the outlets
in the room "rather warm". The wiring was backstabbed throughout the
string of outlets reight out to the last one in the garage!

Outlets should be wired with as full a wrap around the screws as can be
managed. I would never use push connections for this.

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Even better if the wire is just stripped and looped around the termination
screws and not cut and reconnected.


"Homer J Simpson" wrote in message
news:eQoEh.100659$Fd.83858@edtnps90...

"**THE-RFI-EMI-GUY**" wrote in message
...

I had a problem in my last house. During the winter, my wife put a 1KW
space heater in the garage for the dog, and the TV in the living room
started to act up. I found the voltage low at the TV and all the outlets
in the room "rather warm". The wiring was backstabbed throughout the
string of outlets reight out to the last one in the garage!

Outlets should be wired with as full a wrap around the screws as can be
managed. I would never use push connections for this.

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