> Is my outlet broken?

Is my outlet broken?

Posted at: 2015-01-07 
It's NOT likely that the outlet is broken. You have to consider that the fuse/circuit breaker is rated at 15 or 20 amps MAX! Two 1500 watt heaters on the same circuit simply overloaded the circuit, designed to trip in order to prevent overloading the WIRING rating inside the wall. You need to get one of those heaters to another circuit, one that's working and then reset your electrical panel. You can help the system by NOT starting both at the same time, also. Wait for one to get warm before starting the other. For heaters, don't use any extension cords, ever.

It sounds like all that has happened is you've either blown a fuse or "tripped" a circuit breaker on the main electricity board in your house.

If you have a fairly modern house then it's likely a circuit breaker and if you just look at the board/box/panel where your electricity meter is, then you will see that one of the switches will have moved to the OFF position.. Simply switch it back ON.

If you have an older property with fuses then you will need to replace the bit of fuse wire that has blown. This is a bit more difficult though, so as you're dealing with mains electricity I think you should either get a friend or neighbour who has done it before, or as a last resort get an electrician to replace it. The fuse wire only costs pennies/cents so it's just a case of fitting it, which only takes 5 mins maximum.

Hope that helps. :)

1500 watts (110v) is about the max for many home outlets . . . . most electric heaters are 1500 watts - - - so 2 in 1 outlet isn't a good idea.

if not a fuse or breaker, an overheated outlet may have fried the wires - turn off the circuit and pull the outlet from the wall to inspect.

Normally you will trip a breaker or pop a fuse. If this is not it. Time to call an electrician. chances are the receptacle or wiring is the issue. You do not want an electrical fire. You probably overheated the wires causing a short.

You had *TOO MUCH AMPERAGE DRAW at the outlet which tripped the breaker. Plug the second heater in at another wall circuit.

Did anybody check the circuit breaker/fuse box and reset it? It sounds like your tripped a breaker. Find out which one is not set all the way to ON, turn it OFF then back on. Problem solved. Unless it is an old fashioned fuse box with the little glass knobs. Then you find the blown fuse and replace it.

Next time, do not place two high energy devices on the same circuit.

Ever heard of a blown FUSE. Geez.

check breaker panel

No

My wife put 2 electrical heaters into one outlet both at the same time and it was fine for about 10 minutes untill all of the lights went out on the left side of the room where the outlet was located.. All of the outlets on the right side still work, what exactly happened, what could I do to fix this, and how much would it cost?