Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks

I am no expert but, I believe that air cons are supposed to be on a
circuit by themselves. Is there anything else on the same circuit ,like
a tv,radio,lights etc. Try turning them all off except the air con and
see if that makes a difference. Also, possibly the circuit is wired with
to light a wire maybe #14 instead of #12. Maybe the the receptacle is
under amped or it could be a loose wire in the receptacle box. Anyway
you need to get it checked out by a qualified person, what you have is a
dangerous situation. Good Luck!!

wrote:
Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks

wrote:
Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

Replace the outlet with one that has screw terminals. You should use a
"specification grade" outlet rather than the 49 cent special. Chances
are that the bedroom was wired with the cheapest outlet available with
the quickest installation procedure known as backstabbing. The stripped
wire was just pushed into a slot on the back of the outlet with a small
contact spring holding it in. Screw terminals provide much more contact
area and less resistance -- the source of the heat.

wrote:

Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks

Hi,
Check if wires on the outlet terminal is loose in the wall.
Or you have too light wire for the a/c's need.

wrote:
Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks


Bob is right on as to the first thing to do.

There should be a tag on the A/C somewhere that give the wattage or
amps. What does it say? Do you know what size breaker or fuse is
protecting that circuit? Are Aluminum wires uses in your home? Is anything
else plugged into that outlet? Is that a pass through circuit at that
outlet? If so are there any devices down stream ?

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia 's Muire duit

On 27 Jun, 08:27, Meat Plow wrote:
On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:52:42 -0700, wrote:
Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks

-- If the air conditioner is above say 6000 or so btu, it needs to be
on its
-- own circuit without any outlets

What good is a circuit without any outlets?

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:52:42 -0700, "
wrote:

Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks


This may or not be fairly simple. Appliances that draw lots of
amperage can make cords and plugs warm to the touch (my 11 amp vacuum
cleaner does this). Extension cords are intended for temporary use
only, and should not be used for larger appliances. You did not
mention the amperage of the A/C and this is important. Installing a
separate dedicated circuit for your A/Cs and an electrical outlet near
the unit is probably what is needed. Ask the electrician to do a
safety check of your existing wiring and to make cost-effective
suggestions. Also, your main needs to be examined to see if it can
take the extra A/C load, plus room for new breaker(s).

On 26 Jun, 23:52, " wrote:
Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

First off - Unplug the units and stop using them. As I'm sure you
know, receptacles and cords should not be getting hot. So far you've
been lucky that the breaker is tripping before a fire starts.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

From: http://www.ul.com/media/newsrel/nr052705d.html
UL safety experts advise positioning a window air conditioner so its
cord will reach a wall outlet. However, if you must use an extension
cord, follow this advice from UL: Ensure you have the right cord for
an air conditioner. "They're a special breed in the hardware store,"
Drengenberg says. These extension cords are three-pronged grounded
cords and are often flat.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

Whether or not it's a "do it yourself job" is not really the issue. A
"do it yourself job" is not, by definition, a badly done job.

Many circuit breakers will trip for 2 reasons: an over-current
situation where you exceed the rating of the breaker or an extended
"near-capacity" situation where the current very close to the rated
current for a long time. The breaker may have a thermal protection
mechanism so it will trip before the wires get hot enough to start a
fire. It sounds like you are very close to the capacity of the
circuit.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Easy test: shut off the breaker and see which outlets go dead.
You should map out your entire circuit breaker box anyway, just so you
know what is controlling what.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Can't tell from here. It might be as simple as adding a breaker to the
box, pulling one length of Romex up to the attic and splitting a
single circuit into 2. On the other hand, you might have other issues
that could make the project a lot more complicated, such as the wrong
size wiring, faulty outlets, etc.

If you are not comfortable tackling this job yourself, by all means
call an electrician, but the first thing I would do is unplug any
device that causes my outlets to get hot. If you think it's hot
without the AC on, consider how hot that attic will get when it's on
fire!

DerbyDad03 wrote:
On 27 Jun, 08:27, Meat Plow wrote:

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:52:42 -0700, wrote:

Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks


-- If the air conditioner is above say 6000 or so btu, it needs to be
on its
-- own circuit without any outlets

What good is a circuit without any outlets?



Hi,
You got one point!, LOL

Meat Plow wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:06:56 -0700, DerbyDad03 wrote:


On 27 Jun, 08:27, Meat Plow wrote:

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:52:42 -0700, wrote:

Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks

-- If the air conditioner is above say 6000 or so btu, it needs to be
on its
-- own circuit without any outlets

What good is a circuit without any outlets?


Any other outlets other than the air conditioner outlet if you're nit
picking.



So make sure it's a single and not a duplex receptical. G

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

wrote:
Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

If the circuit breaker is tripping with 2 air conditioners running, the
2 air conditioners are a higher amp load than the circuit capacity. You
need to find another circuit for one of the units - something that is
not dead when the circuit breaker trips. If you use an extension cord
use one that is adequate size for the load and not a lot longer than
needed. Or add an outlet on a different circuit. What is the amp rating
for each unit and what is the circuit breaker size?


Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.


Redo - hard to guess. If you are adding an outlet on a new circuit how
easy is it to get a wire to the panel? With a dormer it is likely you
can't fish wire through the attic which, in general, makes the job more
difficult. New outlet on a different circuit - how far to an outlet on a
different circuit now. Outside walls insulated? (harder to fish in new
wires)

Hot outlet - I agree with others that it could be
- loose wire connection
- use of 'backstab' connections
- cheap outlet that now has a loose connection to the plug (does the
plug pull out real easy?)
- or maybe just the other outlet wires through this outlet.

--
bud--

On 27 Jun, 12:24, Meat Plow wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:31:54 -0400, Jeff Wisnia wrote:
Meat Plow wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:06:56 -0700, DerbyDad03 wrote:

On 27 Jun, 08:27, Meat Plow wrote:

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:52:42 -0700, wrote:

Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks

-- If the air conditioner is above say 6000 or so btu, it needs to be
on its
-- own circuit without any outlets

What good is a circuit without any outlets?

Any other outlets other than the air conditioner outlet if you're nit
picking.

So make sure it's a single and not a duplex receptical. G

Jeff

--Well a duplex would be ok if you need to plug your microwave oven or
-- toaster in -

A microwave would be OK but if you used a toaster you'd need another
AC to compensate for the extra heat in the room. Now you'd need one of
these:

http://www.thecollegetoolbox.com/le6ouad.html

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:24:38 -0400, Meat Plow
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:31:54 -0400, Jeff Wisnia wrote:

Meat Plow wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:06:56 -0700, DerbyDad03 wrote:


On 27 Jun, 08:27, Meat Plow wrote:

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:52:42 -0700, wrote:

Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks

-- If the air conditioner is above say 6000 or so btu, it needs to be
on its
-- own circuit without any outlets

What good is a circuit without any outlets?


Any other outlets other than the air conditioner outlet if you're nit
picking.



So make sure it's a single and not a duplex receptical. G

Jeff

Well a duplex would be ok if you need to plug your microwave oven or
toaster in

If it's a duplex you can be pretty sure both outlets are on the same
circuit, and you know you can't have too much on the same circuit as
an air conditioner.

BTW, I know someone who has central heat (no central A/C) and a window
A/C on the same circuit. It works OK as long as both aren't used at
the same time.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Never underestimate the power of stupid
people in large groups"

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:09:31 GMT, Tony Hwang wrote:

DerbyDad03 wrote:
On 27 Jun, 08:27, Meat Plow wrote:

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:52:42 -0700, wrote:

Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks


-- If the air conditioner is above say 6000 or so btu, it needs to be
on its
-- own circuit without any outlets

What good is a circuit without any outlets?



Hi,
You got one point!, LOL

An outletless circuit can be used to give you scented walls. That's
what happens when a rat bites into it.

BTW, when a rat bites into the wires, how much current does it draw?

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:11:22 GMT, Phisherman wrote:

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:52:42 -0700, "
wrote:

Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks


This may or not be fairly simple. Appliances that draw lots of
amperage can make cords and plugs warm to the touch (my 11 amp vacuum
cleaner does this). Extension cords are intended for temporary use
only, and should not be used for larger appliances. You did not
mention the amperage of the A/C and this is important. Installing a
separate dedicated circuit for your A/Cs and an electrical outlet near
the unit is probably what is needed. Ask the electrician to do a
safety check of your existing wiring and to make cost-effective
suggestions. Also, your main needs to be examined to see if it can
take the extra A/C load, plus room for new breaker(s).

I know someone who thought she could use an electric heater on a #16
extension cord (the heater used 1500W and the label on the cord said
1875W). The ends of that cord got hot enough to soften the plastic.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Never underestimate the power of stupid
people in large groups"

On Tue, 26 Jun 2007 20:52:42 -0700, "
wrote:

Hi,

Bob's advice is good.

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

Here, I would think plug meant plug, but in the next line you use plug
to mean outlet, so I'm not sure. Here it doesnt' matter which you
mean, but it might.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician.

Lack of grounding isn't the problem in this case, and grounding won't
solve the problem. There is a connection that isn't tight, between
the prongs of the plug and the outlet, or between the outlet and the
wires connected to it. Some of the electricity turns into heat trying
to get through the connection.

It was observant of you to noticed the heat. In 1980 I had a room
heater plugged into a 1930 outlet and didn't notice, and I woke up one
morning to find 2 inch flames coming from the plug. I tried to pull
the plug out, but just like in a comedy movie, my girlfriend kept
pulling my arm back just before I was able to reach the heater cord.
She was panicking about the flames. Fortunately I overpowered her and
after I pulled out the plug, the flames went out.

That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

A long cord is bad in itself, and since ACs use a lot of current it
should be heavy duty, and if not there will be heat generated along
hte whole length of the cord, although you won't be able to feel it
but it adds up. It won't start a fire, but in theory it could damage
the AC. But it depends on how long you mean by long, and what size
wires.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a

I think I read here that even some professional "electricians"
backstab the wires into the receptacle (outlet). They have sold
outlets with this feature for decades I think, and there must be
millions or maybe tens of millions of connections that used the back
stab part, and most don't cause any problems.

dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also

No, the normal amount of current would make the outlet or plug hot if
the connection is bad.

seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Yes, but if it doesn't blow a fuse, that is ok. My whole 6 room/3
bath apartment only had two circuits and that was fine. The problem
was that the metal parts in the socket no longer squeezed the plug
prongs well enough. And the plug prongs didn't have their own
springiness, as some do.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:06:56 -0700, DerbyDad03
wrote:



-- If the air conditioner is above say 6000 or so btu, it needs to be
on its
-- own circuit without any outlets

What good is a circuit without any outlets?

Inductance. It works with digital voltmeters.

On Jun 26, 11:52 pm, " wrote:
Hi,

It's really hot here tonight and my kids air conditioners upstairs
have me worried. The outlets that they plug into are actually getting
hot and the plug is hot to the touch when I pull it out and feel it.

I switched my son's plug to a newer plug in the bathroom that I had an
electrician put in. I know for a fact that that bathroom plug is
grounded and I trust that electrician. That one does not seem to be
heating up now. I had to run a long extension cord to reach it but
there is no heat anywhere now on that plug at either end.

In my kids room they have grounded outlets but I've always had
problems with the circuit breaker cutting off with the air
conditioners both running at the same time upstairs. It am wondering
if our upstairs rooms may have been a do it yourself job. It's a
dormered out attic and the work is not so great. Not bad, but not
great.

I'm no electrician, but it seems like those units are drawing more
current than the current wiring is capable of handling and it also
seems like they are sharing the same circuit.

Obviously it's time to call an electrician but I would appreciate any
feedback on the hot outlets and on how big a job it would be to redo
some of the wiring to that upstairs dormer.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

Thanks

Two distinct problems, IMHO:

The large loads should be split onto different branch circuits
(breakers.)

Resistive drops in the vicinity/innards of the outlet are excessive.
Can
result from small conductor section-area- needing heftier outlet/plug.
Could even cost pennies more than cheap crap.

Back-stabber outlets, vice screw-terminal, are dangerous IMHO for
motor/compressor loads. Like refrig, a/c. Ideally branch cable is
connected only to breaker and one outlet.

J

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:22:06 -0400, mm
wrote:



Lack of grounding isn't the problem in this case, and grounding won't
solve the problem. There is a connection that isn't tight, between
the prongs of the plug and the outlet, or between the outlet and the
wires connected to it.

It's also possible for the bad connnection to be in the cord/plug
part, inside the plug, between the metal prongs and the wires that go
to an appliance. This was never common and it's less common now, I
think, because plugs seem to be better attached to cords. But flexing
the wire right at the plug can eventually break the wire, or most
strands of it, and that can make heat.

You can probalby tell by feeling what is the hottest part and what is
only hot because it's touching something hotter.

Some of the electricity turns into heat trying
to get through the connection.

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:22:06 -0400, mm
wrote:


No, the normal amount of current would make the outlet or plug hot if
the connection is bad.

So probably all you have to do is change the outlet, the receptacle,
for a newer one. Don't buy the cheapest but one step up from that,
about a dollar or less, but not 29 cents.

(Really, if the outlet is using the back stap parts, you might only
have to take the wires out of that and put them under the screws, but
since you're taking the whole thing apart, maybe get new. REmove the
backstab wires by pushing a small screwdriver in to the hole right
next to the wire hole. When the breaker is off.)

On Jun 27, 6:16 pm, mm wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:22:06 -0400, mm
wrote:



No, the normal amount of current would make the outlet or plug hot if
the connection is bad.

So probably all you have to do is change the outlet, the receptacle,
for a newer one. Don't buy the cheapest but one step up from that,
about a dollar or less, but not 29 cents.

(Really, if the outlet is using the back stap parts, you might only
have to take the wires out of that and put them under the screws, but
since you're taking the whole thing apart, maybe get new. REmove the
backstab wires by pushing a small screwdriver in to the hole right
next to the wire hole. When the breaker is off.)


Well, thanks for all the feedback on this one!

The electrician came this morning and replaced the outlets and also
the plug for the AC in my daughters room - it had a black spot and I
guess it was shorted out a bit. I think that plug was causing some of
the problems. Maybe it got cooked from her outlet.

They are running nice and cool today! No noticeable heat.

Thanks a bunch!

Steve

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:51:44 -0400, mm
wrote:

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:06:56 -0700, DerbyDad03
wrote:



-- If the air conditioner is above say 6000 or so btu, it needs to be
on its
-- own circuit without any outlets

What good is a circuit without any outlets?

Inductance. It works with digital voltmeters.


It could be the source of that 27V read on a disconnected neutral.
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com

"Never underestimate the power of stupid
people in large groups"

On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:24:12 -0700, "
wrote:

On Jun 27, 6:16 pm, mm wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:22:06 -0400, mm
wrote:



No, the normal amount of current would make the outlet or plug hot if
the connection is bad.

So probably all you have to do is change the outlet, the receptacle,
for a newer one. Don't buy the cheapest but one step up from that,
about a dollar or less, but not 29 cents.

(Really, if the outlet is using the back stap parts, you might only
have to take the wires out of that and put them under the screws, but
since you're taking the whole thing apart, maybe get new. REmove the
backstab wires by pushing a small screwdriver in to the hole right
next to the wire hole. When the breaker is off.)


Well, thanks for all the feedback on this one!

The electrician came this morning and replaced the outlets and also
the plug for the AC in my daughters room - it had a black spot and I
guess it was shorted out a bit. I think that plug was causing some of
the problems. Maybe it got cooked from her outlet.

They are running nice and cool today! No noticeable heat.

Thanks a bunch!

Steve

Good solution.

How much was the bill?