One prong on a three-prong plug overheated and the outlet is ruined. What could cause this?

Question

Outdoor outlet, 110 volts, 20 amps. The circuit is dedicated to a small hot tub. It draws 1500 watts intermittently for the heater and a few watts continually for the circulating pump. Outlet is regular outdoor type with a plastic cover, and GFI plug. One night I noticed power was off. One prong was charred, with plastic melted around it, and melted plastic in the outlet. Breaker on panel wasn't tripped. No evidence of a power surge anywhere else. Any ideas on what's going on and what I should do to correct would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Houyhnhnm

Thanks to all for your info. I have replaced the outlet and the plug/cord, and it's working fine now.

Vincent mentioned problems with P&S. Both the old and new outlets are Leviton.

All the answers were good and I don't know which to pick, so I'm putting it to the voters.

Thanks again,
Houyhnhnm

Answer 1

Make sure you have COPPER wire, and that all the connections are nice and tight. Replace the plug all the way to the hot tub, as well as the GFI

Answer 2

The mechanical connection is overheating. At 15 amps if there is a little dirt or corrosion on the prong it will increase the resistance and start to heat the prong. This will cause the resistance to increase more until the prong gets so hot that it will melt the plastic. The best way to correct it would be to install a GFI breaker in the panel and hard wire the circuit to the hot tub. This way you will not have the plug in the circuit. The problem is the connection between the plug and the receptacle

Answer 3

You didn't state which side of outlet or if your hot tub still works. #1 Have the tub checked by a knowledgeable dealer or repair shop that specialises in hot tubs. #2 Turn the power off and remove the outlet. Inspect the wires to the outlet, replace or repair as needed. Replace the GFCI with 20amp GFCI and check cross poles for short to ground or neutral. then energize the circuit. Check voltage. Check GFCI function. Be sure to ground this outlet!
The outlet may have been worn out and subject to loose fit at the plug, causing it to overheat, or you may have shorted wiring or motor within the tub. If in doubt, have it checked before you use.

Answer 4

you have no longer given me adequate suggestions to tell for specific what's going on. maximum electric powered dryers are 220 as a results of fact the different answer says, some are switchable from 220 to a hundred and ten (primary outlet) yet no longer many. yet i ought to comprehend what sort of twine your dryer has, and what sort of outlet you have available interior the laundry. one in each and every of your solutions is DANGEROUSLY incorrect, definite you could bodily substitute the plug, yet once you do, reguardless of which you have or to which you regulate it, you would be able to reason a fire, and definately smash the dryer, some thing your land lord won't like. in case you do not have a 220 outlet, and the dryer is 220 (it has that distinctive formed plug), possibly the previous dryer became into gas, is there a gas line on the wall interior the wash/dry area? this sort of dryer does run on a hundred and ten, as a results of fact the warmth comes from the burning gas and all of the electrical powered has to do is function the fan and tumble the bin. besides, solid success and be careful!!!!

Answer 5

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Answer 6

need a good quality commercial grade outlet 20A rated. the contact inside the one that charred became loose got hot , more loose more heat. I have good results with leviton brand outllets, I have seen the P & S brand charr easily that outlet can not handle a air conditioner.

always tighten the wires under the screw , pushing the wires into the back causes problems over time.



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