Do I have to replace the electrical socket?

Question

I plugged in my computer and the electrical socket sparked and then there was no power from that outlet. The breaker never tripped so I'm guessing that it short circuited and I'll have to replace the socket. Do you think the damage is more severe? or should taht be enough?

Thanks!

Adam

I live in a condo that is only 4 years old. I tried turning the breaker off and on again, but it didn't help. I don't see any burn marks either.

Ok, I tested the wires and they have no juice, so it does go beyond the outlet....dng, I wonder what happened and how far the damage goes....

Answer 1

Most of the sockets used in homes have the wires pushed into a clip in the back of the socket. This provides a poor connection at best. Make sure the circuit is turned off, a circuit tester can be purchased for under $15 the type with 3 lights will work, (about $5. Remove the plate and socket. Wires will either be attached to screws, (which is best), or pushed into the back. If pushed in the back, use a small flat screwdriver to release the clip and pull the wire out. If the socket is not burned, it can be re-used. Attach the wires around the screws, black goes to the brass colored screw, white to the silver colored screw, green to the green screw. After putting everything together and powering the circuit, check with the tester to make sure the proper lights show.

Answer 2

You are probably using more power from the circuit than it is designed to supply. The short that happened is a symptom, not the problem. Although it is possible that your electrical outlet was poorly wired or suddenly defective, it is highly unlikely that there isn't more to the situation than that. I don't know the age of your home, but up until not all that long ago it was common to wire several rooms onto one circuit. For today's electric consumption this is no longer sufficient. Instead of risking a fire, I strongly recommend that you have an electrician verify that the circuit isn't overloaded. Good luck.

Answer 3

.Double check your breaker as some breakers appear to be on, when they are tripped. If you are sure of the circuit, turn that breaker off and then back on. If that breaker did not trip when you shorted the outlet, you have a bigger problem than just the outlet. It may be time for a real electrician. Maybe an oversized breaker etc.

Answer 4

Would start at the panel, use the circuit tester to test each breaker (if you do not know which one) go from wire on breaker to any of the neutral (white) wires in the panel. If all check good then you will have to start checking outlets.

Answer 5

In ALOT of homes the outlets are "Back stabbed" the wire plugged into a hole on the back of the outlet and over time they come loose if you checked the outlet you tried to plug into, it maybe another outlet in that room, you can check it kind of easy,turn the breaker off to that room, pull all the outlets out, pull on the wires plugged into the back of the outlets and see if they pull out easy or even pull out when pulling the outlet out of the box, if they are done like that "Back Stabbed" I Highly recommend you use the screws on the side of the outlet, Remember to make the loop in the wire to go around the screw and put the wire on in the direction the screw tightens. (End of the wire should point in the direction the screw is tightened)

Answer 6

does your puter still work?? it did not short circuit but probably had a loose connection and when it sparked it burnt the connection through... follow all the safety rules and pull the socket out,, take a look!! you should see burn marks,, replace the socket and test it,,"NOT WITH YOUR PUTER"!!! double check the breaker,, sometimes they look ok but you have to turn them all the way off and on again,, !!!!

Answer 7

Replace the electrical recepticale and you are good to go