chronically helpless primitive has fiery nightlight

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=287x8971

Oh my.

Paper Roses  (1000+ posts)      Sat Dec-11-10 08:41 AM
Original message
 
Grrrrrr. What a night. Plugged in a nitelight and it burst into flames.

Big flash, shock, smoke flames, blew circuit. I now have a burn on my finger. Never mind the fact that it scared the heck out of me.

The wall socket is a charred mess, smoke residue on the wall. I was able to pull the light out, double checked the circuit in the basement to make sure it was off and was then, holding a piece of rubber, to grab the prong that remained in the wall socket. I now have a mess and must call an electrician today to see if I can get someone here to replace the socket and whatever else was cooked in the process.

I have several night lights and do not know where I bought this. No mfgr's name on it, just a series of #'s and of course, UL approved. No country of origin but I bet I can guess. I Googled the #'s, cannot find any reference to this product.

The worst part was the smell and the heat in the walls around the socket. I stayed up most of the night just to make sure it cooled off and not start a fire in the walls.

I then wiped the soot from the walls and this AM, there was more residue above the socket.

Just what I need now. Shoot.

I have my refrigerator on a heavy duty X-cord into another socket.

Now I am stuck with finding an electrician, waiting, and worst of all the cost to fix this mess.

Phooey!

No primitive's been at this campfire yet, to offer the chronically-helpless primitive consolation and advice.

[Evil_Conservative]

Why does this member need a night light?  Is he/she 10?  Or maybe doesn't know his/her way around their house in the dark?  My daughter has a cute butterfly night light in her room.  I'm sure I could lend the primitive that one.  My daughter doesn't seem to need a night light.  If anything, it just annoys her.

Oh, I mean, sorry primitive.  It's George Bush's fault that your night light exploded.

[JohnnyReb]

I thought DUmmies knew all about that AC/DC stuff?....

[GOBUCKS]

Replacing a wall outlet is a two-dollar, five-minute job for anyone with a screwdriver and a half-normal brain. For a DUmmy, it's a $150 visit from an electrician. I hope it's a union electrician.

[JohnnyReb]

Replacing a wall outlet is a two-dollar, five-minute job for anyone with a screwdriver and a half-normal brain. For a DUmmy, it's a $150 visit from an electrician. I hope it's a union electrician.

$300....double time for weekends..... .....can't have "the man" abusing his workers liesure time.

[true_blood]

Replacing a wall outlet is a two-dollar, five-minute job for anyone with a screwdriver and a half-normal brain. For a DUmmy, it's a $150 visit from an electrician. I hope it's a union electrician.

I do too.

[Randy]

Uh what kind of electrical nightmare is this place that you have to have the fridge on an extension cord?

[true_blood]

Uh what kind of electrical nightmare is this place that you have to have the fridge on an extension cord?

Fridge right next to the couch in the living room so the primitive doesn't even have to get up from smoking the bones.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Replacing a wall outlet is a two-dollar, five-minute job for anyone with a screwdriver and a half-normal brain. For a DUmmy, it's a $150 visit from an electrician. I hope it's a union electrician.

There is also the bonus possibility that the DUmmie will forget to flip the breaker off before trying it DIY.

[PatriotGame]

Uh what kind of electrical nightmare is this place that you have to have the fridge on an extension cord?

Ah...in a discarded Frigidaire refrigerator cardboard box in the alley behind the local Wal-Mart, next to the dumpster?

[GOBUCKS]

Fridge right next to the couch in the living room so the primitive doesn't even have to get up from smoking the bones.

Correction: Fridge right next to the couch ON THE PORCH....

[Ballygrl]

How does he know it's the nighlight and not something wrong with the socket?

[JLO]

How does he know it's the nighlight and not something wrong with the socket?

Bingo!  We had three sockets in the house that were whacked.  The house was built by a so-called armchair electrician in the 1970's who did the wiring himself and he did not do a good job one bit. 

There were light switches taped off to fixtures in the 3-season porch and the basement, etc.  Three sockets have malfunctioned, and so on.  We hired a real electrician to come and upgrade to get the house in order. 

Peace of mind isn't cheap.  But it's worth it.   

[crockspot]

Dear DUmmy, just cut the cord off of any lamp or appliance, put the cut end in your mouth, and plug in the other end to the socket. If nothing happens, check the breaker, try again, then have the socket replaced.

[true_blood]

Dear DUmmy, just cut the cord off of any lamp or appliance, put the cut end in your mouth, and plug in the other end to the socket. If nothing happens, check the breaker, try again, then have the socket replaced.

[JohnnyReb]

Dear DUmmy, just cut the cord off of any lamp or appliance, put the cut end in your mouth, and plug in the other end to the socket. If nothing happens, check the breaker, try again, then have the socket replaced.

To be on the safe side, one should stand in a bucket of salt water.

[diesel driver]

Dear DUmmy, just cut the cord off of any lamp or appliance, put the cut end in your mouth, and plug in the other end to the socket. If nothing happens, check the breaker, try again, then have the socket replaced.

It would work better if he separated the wires and stripped 2 inches of insulation from each one.  THEN, stick the bare wires in his ears, or tape them to his temples.

If nothing happens, check the breaker and try again.

If nothing still happens, try another outlet.

[BlueStateSaint]

It would work better if he separated the wires and stripped 2 inches of insulation from each one.  THEN, stick the bare wires in his ears, or tape them to his temples.

If nothing happens, check the breaker and try again.

If nothing still happens, try another outlet.

Ya know, that's one of the things I like about this place.  We love the planet so much that we offer the DUmb****s help on "reducing their carbon footprints."

Are we great or what?

[diesel driver]

Ya know, that's one of the things I like about this place.  We love the planet so much that we offer the DUmb****s help on "reducing their carbon footprints."

Are we great or what?

What better way than to turn them back into carbon.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, etc.