Bad Cable - ECN Electrical Forums

Pics and info from FWW56:

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They are af a cord that had obviously been overloaded. This cord was connected to an indoor type space heater and was placed outside on the ground in the dirt and mud beneath two 500gal fuel oil storage tanks.

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The other photo is of an old SquareD QO 20A tandem breaker with backstabbed connections, no screw terminals.

Thanks a lot Frank and as I have said before, sorry about the delay in posting these pics.

[This message has been edited by Trumpy (edited 02-10-2006).]

This may be off topic but WHY would a space heater be used outdoors, let alone under a pair of fuel tanks??? My guess would be to try to keep them warm OR they wanted them to burn... "Pilotless electric ignition" comes to mind [Linked Image]

Anyway that looks like quite the cooker, but at least it was outside when it self destructed!

That breaker, I have seen them at my old elementary school, they were those old "piggyback" style. They used them as switches---> in all the classrooms to protect AND control all the lights, outlets and fans.
A.D

Backstabbed QO, huh? I never knew they made such a thing.