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Electrical Wiring

Burned Electric Outlet Question

last year

We have a toaster oven in our kitchen which we have used for a couple of years. I used it twice recently and both times smelled something burning. (I used it the second time because my husband said he didn't smell anything.) After doing some looking around I found NOT the outlet that the toaster oven was plugged into, but the outlet down the counter from it was discolored and a small piece melted. Electrician has replaced the outlet and cover. I am leary, though, about using the toaster oven again. Since it apparently caused that outlet to melt I'm concerned it will happen again maybe not to that outlet, but to another one. Is it safe to use or should we get a different one?

Comments (5)

A Mat
last year
How many watts does your oven draw? You may be trying to draw 1800 through a 1500 line.
badabing2
last year
You could get a monitor like the Kill-A-Watt (link below) to see what the real power draw is to be safe... Also handy for seeing what things cost too.

https://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU/
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toxcrusadr
last year
^^ I should hope the electrician who replaced the outlet would have explained that, unless the OP didn't tell them that it happened while using the toaster oven.
mtvhike
last year
Are there other appliances plugged into the same circuit as the toaster oven?
dennisgli
last year
I don't know why people are thinking this has something to do with the toaster oven or what else is plugged in to that circuit. The outlet should not have failed - it was probably a defective outlet or (more likely) it was poorly installed.

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