Wire Disintegrated

LNG24

I was putting up a simple light fixture today. Easy enough, right.

Pull the old fixture, install the new. As soon as I turned the wire nut to release the wires, the wire disintegrated on me! Literally, the plastic coating just fell off leaving the bare wire exposed all the way back to the clamp.

I am going to get up into the ceiling tomorrow and see if I can splice it down the line, but never saw anything like this before. There is only one small light. Line was not overloaded. House built in 1954

Sorry pic is so small, didn't have my camera phone res. set high enough

Attached Images

 

Magnettica

I hung a light from a box like that earlier this evening. A trip to the HD for a new fixture and 10 minutes later I was done. The trick is to do as little as possible, meaning: pull the old fixture down gently, use side cutters to cut the supply wires, test for a real switch leg or a switched neutral, delicately removing insulation, install fixture bar, attach wirenuts, write up a bill.

__________________
Electrician service in Rahway, Cranford, Clark, Westfield, Mountainside, Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Roselle, Roselle Park, and New Jersey | Same day electrical service and repairs | Licensed and Insured Electrician in Rahway

Celtic

...or so one might think...

Where in the house was this one lonely small light?

__________________

TxElectrician

Bet someone had removed that pesky insulation from the light canopy so it wouldn't be so difficult to install. Then put in a 100w lamp to brighten things up.

Celtic

You gave away the punchline!

__________________

MALCO.New.York

Yep!!! Or grossly "over-watted" it!!!! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Like he said!!!^^^^^^^^^^^

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

LNG24

There was no room to be any more careful than I was. As soon as I twisted the wire not, it sheded its skin.

This is a very old fixture. One of those with a square glass cover. True, they might have had 2 100w bulbs in the fixture, but its the line in that disintegrated. Thats 14ga. solid wire?

Fixture is located in the kitchen. Just thought it was interesting. Well time to pull the electrician back onto the job and clean it up.

wireless

Ever try unscrewing a 100w lamp while it is on? they get very hot. The light didn't overload the wires, they just got burnt from the heat of the lamps.

Celtic

Sometimes that happens, because....



...the fixture is over lamped.

Using lamps [generally] larger than 60w WILL have a negative impact on the house wiring.
The fixtures have the 60w rating - this rating is stamped/printed/on a sticker right on the fixture. 60w generates significant heat - ever try and remove a lamp that has been "ON" for a few hours? 100w generates even MORE heat. In this dual holder, 200w is an enormous amount of heat.
This quantity of heat is enough to deteriorate the insulation on the house wiring....#14, #12, #10 ~ doesn't matter. The thickness of the insulation is roughly the same size [the wire size is larger]

The heat generated by the lamps goes UP [as all heat acts]...and essentially bakes the insulation on the house wiring.
You usually don't find this same issue with a receptacle that has had a table lamp that has been over lamped plugging into it [you just find other issues/causes ]


Yup.
I hate doing that job of repairing crispy wiring due to over lamping

__________________

Tiger

A little hard to tell from the picture, but it's probably varnished cambric (cloth) insulation. It gets brittle in ceiling fixtures from the heat. I usually cut all the wires back into a couple junction boxes in the attic & add a short whip for the new light.

MALCO.New.York

If is not a Dimmer.......................USE CFL 150's if they will fit in the "Globe". They use 42 Watts and Generate 1/10th the heat! (GE or Sylvania or Philips any other is CRAP)

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

Bkessler

If possible that is the best way to go, It's safer, it's smarter and it should put more money in your pocket too.

Celtic

IF there is an attic....this is in a kitchen ~ options may be limited and the thinking hat comes out.

__________________

LNG24

There is an attic and it is in a kitchen. Going to cut it back later today and see if there is some better wire and then like posted, put a whip to the ceiling box.

FYI: It was wrapped in cloth, but what fell apart was under that cloth wrapping.

Celtic

Oh come on!

Sell them the recessed lighting package w/optional CF box ....don't forget the dimmers are extra

__________________

220/221

VERY common issue. Light bulbs are freking HOT, especially a couple 100 watters. I've seen drywall disintigrated above the fixtures.

The wire will be good outside the box. Sometimes you can loosen the clamps and slide enough fresh wire for a repair. In a pinch, with no attic access, I have re insulated the wires by slipping new insulation (one size larger) over the bare. This takes madd skills though

__________________
Just because it's within code doesn't make it safe.

Just because it's against code doesn't make it unsafe.

LNG24

Thanks Celtic! If you could only see how many Down Grades we had to do in order to get the entire project in line with their budget.

K2

I agree. The wire is generally cooked inside the box only. Wagos can come in handy for these occasions.

Celtic

I'm sure you explained to them that it will cost a small fortune - maybe even a gov't bail out program - to have someone come back at a later date and do the upgrades they "need"

__________________

LNG24

Its a rental house, Tenants will destroy most if whats been done anyway. They will be lucky to get 10 years out of the kitchen and bathroom. 1-2 years on the floor and walls. Windows, Roof and Siding should last a while though.

Well I was glad I called out my buddy. He spotted some other problems that we took care of. Had to cut it back 5' and put in a whip.

So whats a WAGO?