Is my electrical cable burnt?

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

Hello,

A while back, one of my circuits shorted. This caused a dimmer on the circuit to cook to the point I could smell burning plastic/rubber. I got an electrician to fix the improper electrical work.

Later, I was getting a light (on the same circuit) replaced when I saw that the end of the electrical cable connected to the light had dark marks on it. I had that part cut off (photos attached). I'm wondering if these are burn marks, possibly from the short circuit?

I also attached photos of the remaining part of the cable coming from the ceiling. It also has some dark marks, but not as much. I did notice that part of the cable feels slightly sticky. Has this cable been compromised to the point it shouldn't be used?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

Featured Answer

Dave

2 years ago

Yes, i wouldnt trust a handyman. im a licenced electrician and have had to fix enough of their work.

If eveything is holding and youre not having any issues, i woudnt do anything as long as an electrician checked eveything.

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Comments (6)

Dave
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Nope thats just old wire. Ive touched plenty of that stuff that has a sticky feel. Neutral looks like its blackened and the insulation has melted.

Why do the wire nuts in the later photo have tape around them? I cant imagine an electrian doing that.

For some reason homeowners do that. Totally unnecessary.
James Lee thanked Dave
James Lee
Original Author
2 years ago
@Dave Do you know why the sheathing looks like that and why the neutral blackened and insulation melted? Would those be concerns?

Great observation regarding the electrical tape. I had removed the light that was installed there to replace with a different style light. In the meantime, I capped things off and put electrical tape because electrical scares me after that short circuit incident, so I wanted to be as unnecessary as possible haha.
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Dave
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
it could be from heating up. What was on that circuit and did the electrician tell you the exact issue? Lose connection?
James Lee thanked Dave
James Lee
Original Author
2 years ago
@Dave I had some light switches moved a couple feet by a handyman who gave the task to his assistant, who didn't know what he was doing. I learned a big lesson not to give such work to handymen anymore. The electrician found that the outer sheath of the electrical cable was removed (leaving just the individual THHN wires, although those were thinly sheathed) but also that things were not properly grounded.

Do you think I would need to get that electrical cable from the ceiling pulled out and replaced? I'm wondering if I need to go as far as to pull out all cabling from the circuit and replace it...
James Lee
Original Author
2 years ago
Yes definitely only licensed electricians from here on out for me. Thank you @Dave