Outlet Shorting

[mpk]

Hello,

I have a kitchen outlet that shorts out at times, especially when there are multiple appliances or lights being used; triggering the circuit breaker. The guy who did our home inspection said it was simply the wiring to the outlet was backwards. The outlet is functional. Does this sound correct? Can I simply reverse the wires & expect the outlet to be fine? Thanks for any help!

[Hube]

Welcome MPK; This "Shorting" sounds like its a clear case of "OVERLOAD",which mean that it has a way too much power being used at this outlet(circuit).... When the breaker "trips" it puts a stop to any potential possibility that the cables could catch fire, etc, and maybe burn your house down. Also check to make sure that the HOT (black ) is on the Brass terminal, and the Neutral (white) is on the steel (silver) terminal. And make sure its Grounded (green/bare to ground terminal AND the metal box.. Good luck, Hube

[mpk]

Thanks Hube. I think I'm going to have to open it up & see how it's configured. I believe all the kitchen electric is hooked up to this circuit breaker. Is that too much stuff on one circuit? (Not sure of our voltage) Usual stuff: refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, electric stove, overhead light.. that's it. I don't use this particular outlet that much. We have a toaster oven that we occasionally use from that outlet. The breaker only gets tripped (occasionally) when that outlet is used; no problems otherwise. If my wife is using the oven & a couple appliances from another outlet, no trouble.

If the wires are backward/not connected properly, could it be a functioning outlet; but tend to overload? Forgive me if that theory is way off, that was the home inspector's take on it!

[Hube]

MPK;
A stove and micro wave, refrigerator should be on ALL SEPARATED CIRCUITS, If not ,this a FIRE waiting to happen. Also its a violation of the electrical codes...What is the amp # rating on this particular outlets breaker?, 15, 20? The outlet in question SHOULD be on a separate circuit, and NOT have any thing to do with the stove, micro wave,,etc IF this is a normal regular outlet, say 15 or 20 amp rated, then your only going to take approx 1500 watts @ 120V from it. Trying to take any more wattage from this line will certainly "trip" the breaker every time. Hube

[mpk]

Geez.... I'm going to have to take a closer look at this stuff. I don't know the specifics offhand - I'm doing over the kitchen, and thought this would be a simple fix! Thanks for your help Hube, hopefully I'm wrong about everything being on one circuit.

[irregularjoe]

The stove would not be on the same circuit, as it is 220 volts.
However it is not that unusual for older houses to have one 20 or 15 amp circuit for all the 110 volt kitchen plugs. And if you expect to run a microwave (8 amps) toaster (9amps) refigerator (12 amps) coffee maker (9 amps) at the same time, or even two of them together, you are going to overload the circuit. These ratings might not be exact but they are pretty close. Any electrical device that is intended to cook, iron, toast or otherwise HEAT is inherently going to use a lot of current. Once you start drawing 22+ amps on a 20 or especially a 15 amp circuit on a constant basis, the breaker SHOULD trip. The alternative is overheated wires and devices.
Todays kitchens should have seperate 20 amp circuits for each refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher/ disposal, and at least two others for plugs. Lighting should also be seperate.
If you are doing the kitchen over, now is the time to add needed circuits.

Did you ever see OHM'S mother in LAW?...... SHOCKING!

[mpk]

Thanks for the info Joe. The electric is definitely old; like everything else in the place. I'm going to have to take a close look at the fuse box & have somebody add circuits.

[irregularjoe]

quote:Originally posted by mpk

Thanks for the info Joe. The electric is definitely old; like everything else in the place. I'm going to have to take a close look at the fuse box & have somebody add circuits.

uh oh.....did you say fuse box?

Did you ever see OHM'S mother in LAW?...... SHOCKING!

[mpk]

I hope I'm just using a wrong term, and not sitting on a major problem.... the box where are the circuit breakers are; is breaker box the right term?

[irregularjoe]

quote:Originally posted by mpk

I hope I'm just using a wrong term, and not sitting on a major problem.... the box where are the circuit breakers are; is breaker box the right term?

Yes. Fuse box = REALLY old.
If you have circuit breakers, you're in better shape.

Did you ever see OHM'S mother in LAW?...... SHOCKING!

[jean]

Fuses look like this:


and must be replaced when they are tripped.

Breakers look like this:


and are capable of being reset when they are tripped.