The 220 outlet box for my dryer caught fire last night, both it and the plug were damaged, but fortunately nothing else. I saw the flickering light on my security camera. At first I thought the RGB light I built a few weeks ago was malfunctioning. It's really bright, but fades slowly, and no flicker. So went out and checked. The outlet box was flaming up pretty good, really sucked because it had been raining earlier, everything around it was wet. Had to grab the dog, he's a curious puppy, and its 220 and fire. Flip the breakers, went back out, but still burning pretty good, covered it with some scrap aluminum, died out quickly.
This was really strange, as I ran this 220 about 14 years ago, and it's been through hurricanes. The rain we've been getting hasn't been anything spectacular, why flame up now? Will admit that I don't much about house wiring, but do it anyway. This was my first 220 run, which involved considerable guessing, surprised it worked. Can only guess that some water got in, maybe a bug or something.
Going to Home Depot when it opens, and get a new box, and see if they have a longer cord for the dryer. If not, I'll just replace the cord. Yeah, going to just put it back as before. If I get the longer cord, I can put it inside the house, if not, I'll have to shelter it, so it doesn't happen again. Lucky I was home, and had the security cameras, could have been much worse. The wires seem fine, weren't even warm to touch, even with the flames.
Kind of got me rethinking a project I've had in the works for a while. I was going to put some large, simulated flame, torch style lights out in my yard, solar powered. I've got some small ones that do candle flame okay, and my solar has moved up to 12 volts, but I'm thinking how lucky I was to notice the unusual flicker of light.
This was really strange, as I ran this 220 about 14 years ago, and it's been through hurricanes. The rain we've been getting hasn't been anything spectacular, why flame up now? Will admit that I don't much about house wiring, but do it anyway. This was my first 220 run, which involved considerable guessing, surprised it worked. Can only guess that some water got in, maybe a bug or something.
Going to Home Depot when it opens, and get a new box, and see if they have a longer cord for the dryer. If not, I'll just replace the cord. Yeah, going to just put it back as before. If I get the longer cord, I can put it inside the house, if not, I'll have to shelter it, so it doesn't happen again. Lucky I was home, and had the security cameras, could have been much worse. The wires seem fine, weren't even warm to touch, even with the flames.
Kind of got me rethinking a project I've had in the works for a while. I was going to put some large, simulated flame, torch style lights out in my yard, solar powered. I've got some small ones that do candle flame okay, and my solar has moved up to 12 volts, but I'm thinking how lucky I was to notice the unusual flicker of light.