ECN Forum Forums Photo Discussion Forums Violation Photo Forum Fried Receptacle

A contributor on a radio repair message board gave me permission to pass this on for this for posting. The GFCI recept in the first shot looks like charcoal:
-Sven

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Gosh, where was this photo when my kids were in junior high and had to make those drug awareness posters showing, "This is your brain . . . this is your brain on drugs?"



As I discovered to my chagrin, the previous owner of this house had created an extra outlet in the garage with the aid of a length of cheap extension cord! That extra outlet happens to be the one that powers my workbench, including lights, soldering station, and a little space heater.



This mess was hidden behind a water heater, so I never noticed where my workbench outlet wiring originated until the cord plug finally failed. I eliminated this outlet -- who needs one behind a water heater? -- and made it into a junction box.

I guess today's lesson is . . . never assume. Sheesh!

Phil Nelson

By converting this outlet into a junction box (presumably by removing the GFCI and splicing the line and load cables together), the homeowner may have eliminated GFCI protection elsewhere, such as outdoor receptacles, or even in the bathroom/kitchen.

Back when GFCIs were new (and expensive), it was somewhat common to install one unit in a basement or garage, and then use the load side to feed all the other GFCI-required circuits in the house.

I would suggest a check of outdoor recepts and bathroom/kitchen circuits to verify that they still have GFCI protection provided somewhere...

By using the outlet as a junction box, are their issues of access?