Why Does My Electrical Outlet Spark When I Plug Something In

What to do when an electrical outlet sparks.

Why does my electrical outlet spark when i plug something in. 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. If an electrical outlet sparks when you plug something in it s important to call a professional to diagnose and repair the issue. Any spark you may notice on the hot side of the outlet is usually caused by the appliance s sudden draw of. My electrical outlet sparks when i plug something in posted on october 23 2017 by hls admin if you notice a spark at an outlet when you plug in an appliance you re probably wondering if there s a problem that needs immediate attention or if this is normal.

Sometimes it s perfectly normal but other times it s a symptom of a more serious problem. 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. The electricity runs through one slot of the outlet powers the appliance then escapes through the second slot of the outlet. Normal electrical discharge can be seen when a plug is removed from a wall outlet.

Sometimes the spark is caused by a larger problem like a short. After all electricity is powering the device you just plugged into the outlet. Why do outlets spark. Whether you notice a little flash of blue or not there will always be a spark when a plug and an outlet connect.

I plugged in hair dryer to 2 prong outlet last night started up then quit after 2 seconds. While you might be shocked no pun intended to see your outlet spark a small spark is completely normal. What is an abnormal spark. This small blue spark is normal.

Why did i see a spark when i plugged into an electric outlet. Just before a plug touches an outlet when the two are very close to each other an electrical current from the circuit will reach across the tiny gap and create a spark. It can be a little jarring to see an electrical outlet spark. These sparks can be startling when they happen but for the most part they are normal.

Loud pop sparks plus a black burn on my thumb but farther down from where i was holding plug. When i plug in my adapter for my laptop computer directly into an outlet in my kitchen i can see a spark at the time i plug it in. Plug something different into the outlet. While sparking from an outlet isn t necessarily a large concern don t ignore the problem if it continues happening.

I tried other receptacles in the house and i get a spark from them also. When you see an outlet spark consider if any of the following are a likely culprit. On the off chance that it s not the electrical outlet but rather your cell phone charger that s not working plug something else into the same outlet.