It can be a little jarring to see an electrical outlet spark.
Why does my electrical outlet spark.
The electrical outlets in your home essentially tap into this fast moving electrical stream and divert some of the electricity to whatever you plug into them.
This principle can be compared to an automotive spark plug where there is a gap between the center electrode and the grounded tip and because the voltage is high a spark will easily occur between the electrode and the grounded tip.
Why do outlets spark.
Overloading the outlet it s never a good idea to plug too many appliances or devices into an outlet as this can cause the outlet to overload resulting in sparking a breaker tripping or even an electrical fire.
An electrical spark will occur when the electrical load on the circuit is substantial.
When you see an outlet spark consider if any of the following are a likely culprit.
Normal electrical discharge can be seen when a plug is removed from a wall outlet.
Electricity is fast hot and powerful so when you insert a plug into an outlet it can cause a brief spark until the electrons flow freely.
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A spark that lasts longer than a second or takes time to fizzle out is a sign that your outlet or electrical circuit might be faulty.
Seeing a wall outlet spark can be a little unnerving but often a small spark is completely normal.
In other more serious instances sparking can be caused by.
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Electricity will continue to flow through the electronic device leading up to the moment you unplug and an electrical spark can form from the unused and built up electricity.
A spark big or small could cause an electrical fire.
Any spark you may notice on the hot side of the outlet is usually caused by the appliance s sudden draw of.
What does it mean when an outlet sparks.
A spark should come and go in the blink of an eye.
Sometimes the spark is caused by a larger problem like a short.
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Sometimes a visible spark at the outlet is normal.
The electricity runs through one slot of the outlet powers the appliance then escapes through the second slot of the outlet.
If you fear there s a problem with your electrical outlet it s best to hire a licensed electrician to replace it.
If your electrical system has been repaired by someone without the skill or experience to do the job right those poor repairs can result in big problems either in the near future or far future.
Use a certified electrician for all electrical repairs.
In reality a spark happens every time you plug an appliance into an electrical outlet you usually just don t see it.
Outlet sparks are blue and should only be blue.
Sometimes it s perfectly normal but other times it s a symptom of a more serious problem.
