House-wide arcing
#1
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House-wide arcing
Our fan wall switches arc, and there's an arc when an appliance plug is inserted into a live electrical outlet socket--throughout the house. The house is 5 years old. Is there a house-wide wiring problem? Any ideas what's going on here? Thanks.
#2
Our fan wall switches arc
Many plugs will arc when plugged in if the device is electronic or turned on before being plugged in.
Any ideas what's going on here?
#3
Do all the appliances and lights and switches work correctly?
When a switch is flipped on or off and something is controlled by the switch (as opposed to an empty receptacle) there will be a tiny spark, the size depends on the amount of power being consumed.
When a switch is flipped on or off and something is controlled by the switch (as opposed to an empty receptacle) there will be a tiny spark, the size depends on the amount of power being consumed.
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@PJMAX: I can sometimes hear a snap in the fan switches and in the outlet sockets. If the room is dark enough, I can also sometimes see a slight, very small flash in a fan switch or in an outlet socket. I wouldn't call any of this shooting sparks, though. All the switches fine. I have tested all the outlets with a receptable tester, and all are wired correctly and working correctly.
As you can see from the photo, over time, one outlet that I often use has become slightly blackened from the faint sparking.
@AllanJ: Yup, all outlets, switches, and appliances work fine.
By the way, I changed the fan switches to a different brand and style, but the problem persists.
I would like to know if this is normal switch and outlet behavior or if I have a problem, and since it seems to occur throughout the house, I'm wondering if there's a house-wide wiring problem.
Thanks.
As you can see from the photo, over time, one outlet that I often use has become slightly blackened from the faint sparking.
@AllanJ: Yup, all outlets, switches, and appliances work fine.
By the way, I changed the fan switches to a different brand and style, but the problem persists.
I would like to know if this is normal switch and outlet behavior or if I have a problem, and since it seems to occur throughout the house, I'm wondering if there's a house-wide wiring problem.
Thanks.
#5
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drywall issue?
You have residue even in the grounding hole. An chance you have Chinese drywall from the 2005 time frame +/-? Has there been any dusty construction/remodeling in the home?
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You have residue even in the grounding hole. An chance you have Chinese drywall from the 2005 time frame +/-? Has there been any dusty construction/remodeling in the home?
#7
Any circuit that has a load on it will arc when connected. Do you get an arc when you plug in a lamp with that switch on the lamp off?
Was the house wired by an electrical contractor?
Do you have AFCI breakers for the bedrooms (required under 2008 code)
Please take a voltage reading between each hole and post the results here:
Hot to neutral (right slot to left slot)
Hot to ground (right slot to bottom hole)
Neutral to ground (left slot to bottom hole)
Was the house wired by an electrical contractor?
Do you have AFCI breakers for the bedrooms (required under 2008 code)
Please take a voltage reading between each hole and post the results here:
Hot to neutral (right slot to left slot)
Hot to ground (right slot to bottom hole)
Neutral to ground (left slot to bottom hole)
#8
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I would take a dry Q tip and swap those slots. See if the residue is black (arcing products) or green (copper/brass corrosion product).
#9
That certainly looks to be black and most unusual to see it in the round ground slot where arcing usually never occurs on a plug in.
What do you plug in there that uses three prongs ?
What do you plug in there that uses three prongs ?
#11
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I'm wondering if that residue on the receptacles is dirt caused by air infiltration? Air being pulled through the receptacle, leaving dirt - and not specifically caused by arcing. I think PJMax is correct, it would be very rare and would likely be tripping breakers.
It's common to see an arc in a switch when a load is powered on or off, similarly with plugging in devices. Sometimes cheaper switches or receptacles will cause more of an arc, but it isn't limited to only cheap devices.
It's common to see an arc in a switch when a load is powered on or off, similarly with plugging in devices. Sometimes cheaper switches or receptacles will cause more of an arc, but it isn't limited to only cheap devices.
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Could very well be dust. The house is and has always been very dusty--even with our dusting nearly every day and using MERV-9 air filters. Would "canned air" work to clear the receptable dust?
I'll have to test this. I get that slight arc and occasional flash when I plug in my laptop power source. This also happens with our ceiling fan switches.
Yes. The house was built in 2009. How would I check for AFCI breakers?
Thanks!
Any circuit that has a load on it will arc when connected. Do you get an arc when you plug in a lamp with that switch on the lamp off?
Was the house wired by an electrical contractor?
Do you have AFCI breakers for the bedrooms (required under 2008 code)
Do you have AFCI breakers for the bedrooms (required under 2008 code)
Thanks!
#14
I get that slight arc and occasional flash when I plug in my laptop power source. This also happens with our ceiling fan switches.
How would I check for AFCI breakers?
One thing to note is that different states, and cities, are on different code cycles of the NEC. My state is on 2014 code while other states are on earlier versions. You do not have your location filled out so we really do not know what code cycle you are on.
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Thanks, Tolyn Ironhand.
The electrical panel has two breakers with test buttons, although I didn't see "AFCI" on them (see photos--the FULL Panel is vertical--only the photo is horizontal). Those two breakers (#1 and #4) are for both bedrooms. I'm in Florida, and I added that location to my profile.
Look at the electrical panel, the breakers will be marked "AFCI" on them and have a "test" button similar to a GFCI.
One thing to note is that different states, and cities, are on different code cycles of the NEC. My state is on 2014 code while other states are on earlier versions. You do not have your location filled out so we really do not know what code cycle you are on.
One thing to note is that different states, and cities, are on different code cycles of the NEC. My state is on 2014 code while other states are on earlier versions. You do not have your location filled out so we really do not know what code cycle you are on.
Last edited by ray2047; 04-24-16 at 09:27 PM. Reason: Rotate and crop image.
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Those are AFCI breakers. If they were GFCI they would have a yellow test button.
You never did take any voltage readings I mentioned.
BTW - what is this in the red circle? Is it a surge protector?
Yes--surge protector. The photo is upside down. The surge protector is at the top right on the panel.
#18
I don't have a meter for that. Can you suggest something please?
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A $8-$15 analog multimeter is all you need. A digital would work for this but ones within a reasonable price range for casual DIY can give misleading results due to capacitive and induced voltages.