Arcing House Wiring

Arcing House Wiring | The wire on this outlet came loose and the tiny gap between the wire and the screw started to arc. Many people die in electrical fires each year caused by arcing like this. This column was shared with my 31,000 newsletter subscribers in the January 26, 2020 Newsletter. Wire nut arcing can also be a dangerous fire hazard. You can even get arcing burying electrical wire underground.

Arcing House Wiring - Very Dangerous and Lethal

An arcing outlet like you see in the photo above can kill you. You can see how the insulation on the wire has burned away and the actual plastic outlet started to melt.

It was only a matter of time before flames would erupt and spread. Circuit breaker arcing is possible too. This is why you need to really make sure the screw fastening the wire to the breaker is tight.

Is Electrical Arcing Dangerous?

Yes, electrical arcing is dangerous and very serious. Electrical arcing is the same process used by welders to melt solid steel to create strong welds. The arcing in your home is not as big, but it creates enough heat to start a fire.

How Fast Can Arcing Cause a Fire?

Watch this video to see how fast arcing starts a fire in a normal electrical box in your home:

Are There Special Breakers That Can Sense Arcing?

Yes, you can install arc fault circuit interrupter breakers in your panel to help keep you safe.

Is There Advanced Technology to Monitor My Home for Arcing?

Yes, there's a sophisticated device called Ting that plugs into an outlet in your home. Look below at the photo caption for a SPECIAL promo code. It connects to the Internet via WiFi. The device sends data about your electrical system to a company that monitors your entire home.

This is the Ting Arcing monitor. It plugs into any outlet, connects to the Wifi in your home, and then starts to protect you, your family, and all your possessions. CLICK or TAP HERE for a Special Discount exclusive to Ask the Builder newsletter subscribers and website visitors. IMPORTANT: Use the promo code TIM10 (note upper case) at checkout for exclusive savings. Note that Tim Carter gets a very small commission from TingFire should you purchase using the above link. Tim only promotes products he trusts and uses in his own home.

An app on your smartphone allows you to check the condition of your home's wiring at any time. Here is a screenshot of the app on my phone showing all is well:

This is the home screen of the Ting App. The green bar at the top shows all is well. If Ting senses an issue in your home's wiring, you get an instant push notification on your smartphone app as you see above, the red #1 above Notifications. In addition, the Ting service center CALLS you on your phone should it detect hazardous arcing! In my case above, that notification told me that I had a minor power outage at my home. CLICK or TAP HERE to purchase one priced with a special AsktheBuilder discount. Don't forget to use the promo code: TIM10 for a big savings!

CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from local electricians to check your house for electrical arcs.

A special alert to this column was given in the January 24, 2020 Alert Newsletter.

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