A new failure mode in household electrics

[Packard V8]

Recently, a 20-amp circuit breaker servicing standard duplex outlets kicked out for no obvious reason. I unplugged everything on those outlets, reset the breaker and plugged each back in in turn, finding no tells.

A few days later, the circuit breaker kicked out again and this time, wouldn't reset. I replaced the breaker and began plugging in the loads one at a time, this time turning each on full capacity. When a three-way bulb floor lamp was turned on full, it threw the breaker and blew both the lamp socket and the bulb.

Examination was obvious; the cheap Chicom bulb socket had shorted between the two power poles and ground, but it took an indeterminant number of days to grow the short to pull enough amps to throw the 20 amp breaker. To have been shorted enough time to burn the points on the previous breaker, it was failing a while.

The replacement Leviton socket, best I could find locally, at least was made in Mexico, but I'll be watching that lamp and the others with Chicom three-ways more closely.

jack vines

 

[Zeke]

They still make 3-way bulbs?

 

[Almost Retired]

Recently, a 20-amp circuit breaker servicing standard duplex outlets kicked out for no obvious reason. I unplugged everything on those outlets, reset the breaker and plugged each back in in turn, finding no tells.

A few days later, the circuit breaker kicked out again and this time, wouldn't reset. I replaced the breaker and began plugging in the loads one at a time, this time turning each on full capacity. When a three-way bulb floor lamp was turned on full, it threw the breaker and blew both the lamp socket and the bulb.

Examination was obvious; the cheap Chicom bulb socket had shorted between the two power poles and ground, but it took an indeterminant number of days to grow the short to pull enough amps to throw the 20 amp breaker. To have been shorted enough time to burn the points on the previous breaker, it was failing a while.

The replacement Leviton socket, best I could find locally, at least was made in Mexico, but I'll be watching that lamp and the others with Chicom three-ways more closely.

jack vines

nothing new, various things fail similar to that at various time
you shouldnt have any chicom products in your house, unless they have a UL label on them
otherwise you are courting a fire, hopefully you learned that from this experience
this time it only cost you a breaker and a lamp socket
next time may be different
it may fail differently and not trip the breaker but still heat up enough to start a fire while you are asleep
this scenario is also common for cheaply made things

 

[nadogail]

comment withheld to avoid suspicion of political activity.

 

[Wrench97]

They still make 3-way bulbs?

In LED no less..............

 

[billconner]

In LED no less..............

Yup. I've even found mogul base three ways.

 

[Norcal]

nothing new, various things fail similar to that at various time
you shouldnt have any chicom products in your house, unless they have a UL label on them
otherwise you are courting a fire, hopefully you learned that from this experience
this time it only cost you a breaker and a lamp socket
next time may be different
it may fail differently and not trip the breaker but still heat up enough to start a fire while you are asleep
this scenario is also common for cheaply made things

There have been instances of fake UL labels on ChiCom products.

 

[sparky 1971]

Damn. I thought I was going to get another chance to bash AFCI breakers.

 

[mike93lx]

Damn. I thought I was going to get another chance to bash AFCI breakers.

Don’t hold back

 

[sparky 1971]

Don’t hold back

OK. AFCI "protection" is the the biggest scam to be pulled over on the people as far as the electrical industry goes in the last 20 years.

 

[mike93lx]

OK. AFCI "protection" is the the biggest scam to be pulled over on the people as far as the electrical industry goes in the last 20 years.

See, feel better?

 

[sparky 1971]

See, feel better?

A little. Thanks.

 

[Norcal]

Yup. I've even found mogul base three ways.

In LED? I have bought a whole heap of mogul base, 100/200/300 watt 3-way incandescent, most even survived a cat knocking the box with them it to the ground.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Damn. I thought I was going to get another chance to bash AFCI breakers.

Beat me to it

 

[billconner]

In LED? I have bought a whole heap of mogul base, 100/200/300 watt 3-way incandescent, most even survived a cat knocking the box with them it to the ground.

I'll have to look now. I could of bought a mogul to medium adapter.

 

[RPH]

Carbon tracking, been around long before lightbulbs were invented.

 

[CoogarXR]

The thing I've been dealing with lately is power cords becoming brittle, cracking, strands popping out and dead-shorting the outlet. I just happened on my space heater, and it happened on my crock pot.

 

[Norcal]

I'll have to look now. I could of bought a mogul to medium adapter.

Not seen one of those in a 3-way.

 

[billconner]

Not seen one of those in a 3-way.

You are likely correct. I have incandescent in that mogul 3 way.

 

[Norcal]

You are likely correct. I have incandescent in that mogul 3 way.

They may exist, but not much of a market for them, even pulse rated mogul to medium adapters are rare, and with LED replacing HID lighting their usefulness is becoming less & less.