Up In Smoke.....

Systems
Systems Posts: 14,873
edited August 2009 in The Clubhouse
Hello

Had a little scare, well big scare, at the house the other night. I was laying in bed watching tv and I kept smelling something, electrical smell. I have a Panasonic plasma and a directv hd dvr plugged into a monster power surge protector.

I live in the family farm house, was built in 59 and the outlets upstairs are the original three bank two prong type. I had an orange three prong adaptor plugged into the surge protector and into one of those outlets.

Anyway, I looked around in back and couldn't really see anything and decided to check it out more and was putting on my robe when the receiver started freaking out and I could hear this zzzt, zzzt, zzzt. Looked at the outlet and was putting out a pretty good light show where the three prong adaptor was. I know this was a wrong move on my part but I reached down and jerked the plug out, but I was willing to sacrifice my life for my Plasma tv:) I didn't get shocked but did burn my finger a little on the melted plastic.

This is where things really got interesting. The adapter stayed plugged into the outlet and it was still melting and smoking and then all of a sudden things really shorted and it looked like somebody was welding back there, I **** you not. More smoke and flames and the breaker finally blew...

After the smoke cleared I got the adapter out, not much left of it, and took the outlet off to see if everything was okay with the wiring. The wiring was fine, looks like the issue was in the adapter. I've had this plugged in there for pretty close to a year now and am not really sure why this all of a sudden decided to melt down. The Tv and the receiver were also okay.

This all happened the night before we left on a trip, thank god we were here. Needles to say we went around and unplugged everything in the house before we left.....And, I will also be updating the outlet....
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Comments

  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited August 2009
    Wow glad everything turned out alright.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,380
    edited August 2009
    Looks like Lightman has been up to his old tricks... and glad all is well
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  • Rivrrat
    Rivrrat Posts: 2,101
    edited August 2009
    That's a serious bummer. I hope nothing happened to your plasma. While it may not have killed it, electrical issues like that have a way of shortening life expectancies of electrical components. Also, I'd think about replacing the surge protector now.
    My equipment sig felt inadequate and deleted itself.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,461
    edited August 2009
    Count your blessings, that was definitely one of them.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

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  • jimmydep
    jimmydep Posts: 1,305
    edited August 2009
    Have someone check your circuit breakers, if you had a light show with sparks flying, the breaker should have tripped. Glad you're alright and that your plasma survived.

    Jimmy
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited August 2009
    jimmydep wrote: »
    Have someone check your circuit breakers, if you had a light show with sparks flying, the breaker should have tripped. Glad you're alright and that your plasma survived.

    Jimmy

    Yes, it should have tripped right away. Am going to replace the breaker too.
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  • apphd
    apphd Posts: 1,514
    edited August 2009
    Some stories do have happy endings:) glad to read the outcome was so good from what could have been very catastrophic.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2009
    Send it back to Monster and tell them their **** sucks! they can't argue with a burned up plug like yours.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,201
    edited August 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    Count your blessings, that was definitely one of them.

    +1000

    That is my worst fear not the gear it can be replaced, but a FIRE...
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  • raidersrule76
    raidersrule76 Posts: 471
    edited August 2009
    I once had a power surge come thru the house and it melted my surge protector right to the carpet and the only thing that didn't survive was my powered sub. Thankfully I was also home at the time I would have not wanted to see the outcome it I had not been. Glad to see that everything is ok.

    Mark
    Sig to be updated after dealing with the insurance company:(:(:(
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  • BeRad
    BeRad Posts: 736
    edited August 2009
    Wow, that one prong is burnt right off! I can't believe the breaker didn't trip sooner regardless of how bad of shape it may be in.

    This gives me an idea for when I move into my house... replace all breakers!
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited August 2009
    Hello

    Just a followup, I talked to an electrician this morning and he came up with a great solution along with swapping out the breaker. I'm going to swap out some of the outlets, where theres three prong cords needed, with GFI's. That way if anything starts to even have a hint of shorting out it will trip the GFI also.

    I did that with the outlet I had trouble with and then put in a UPS off of the GFI to run the Directv HD DVR.

    Everything seems to be okay so far.....
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited August 2009
    I see the name MONSTER on it....there's your problem.
    TNRabbit
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited August 2009
    TNRabbit wrote: »
    I see the name MONSTER on it....there's your problem.

    Yes, theres no more Monsters in the house:)
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  • xj4094dg
    xj4094dg Posts: 1,158
    edited August 2009
    Lorthos wrote: »
    Hello

    Just a followup, I talked to and electrician this morning and he came up with a great solution along with swapping out the breaker. I'm going to swap out some of the outlets, where theres three prong cords needed, with GFI's. That way if anything starts to even have a hint of shorting out it will trip the GFI also.

    I did that with the outlet I had trouble with and then put in a UPS off of the GFI to run the Directv HD DVR.

    Everything seems to be okay so far.....

    What is a GFI?
    "The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it." Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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  • edbert
    edbert Posts: 1,041
    edited August 2009
    Ground Fault Interrupt

    You more than likely have them as the plugs around sinks, bathtubs where a short could easily happen. I'm sure there is more technical stuff, but I don't know any of it.
    I know just enough to be dangerous, but don't tell my wife, she thinks I'm a genius. :D

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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited August 2009
    I hope you thanked someone for that blessing,, that plug looks nasty,, glad no one was hurt.:)
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited August 2009
    Those 3 prong to 2 prong adapters really are not to code and this is probably a case in point. The only way to go 3 prong to 2 within code is with a separate ground strapped to it or a GFCI outlet like the electrician recommended.
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  • Retro152
    Retro152 Posts: 985
    edited August 2009
    Whew! Glad you were able to avert disaster. Nice to hear everyones okay. Hope the gear is alright.





    Pat.
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