Electrical burning smell in garage

[Lauren]

@SnBGC Oof, the stuff of nightmares. We've had few incidents where homeowner smells burning, turns everything off downstream from the breaker, but the breaker itself is arcing. Heat + Melting plastic = problem. Glad you got lucky.

I don't intend to freak anyone out - fortunately electrical fixes (pre-fire ?) are easy enough to fix. Just make sure the appropriate breakers/switches are off. Safety first, etc.

I know that my husband used a thicker

You....don't see the melted plug on the right of your outlet? That thing is a goner.

I thought the same thing at first but appears to be dirt around it. I took off the plate and this is what is looks like. The black wire (seen to left of copper pipe) is what is wired into our box and to the outlet in garage. It is very thick and electrician was happy to see we went with a thicker gauge. I would tell you exactly what it is, because I did not buy it, my husband did.

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[hybrid2bev]

How does that cord even reach from the ChargePoint to the receptacle? It's supposed to have a slight bend to the cord when plugged in (not be a straight line).

 

[Scooby24]

That's a heat mark from what I've seen. Look at the back of the leviton outlet...it's melted, I'm certain of it.

 

[Lauren]

That's a heat mark from what I've seen. Look at the back of the leviton outlet...it's melted, I'm certain of it.

I will have to check that. I do appreciate the input. The plug does reach in a small "u" shape to outlet with no issues.

 

[A-A-Ron]

I will have to check that. I do appreciate the input. The plug does reach in a small "u" shape to outlet with no issues.

Turn the circuit breaker off if not already, then unscrew those 4 screws and you can pull the outlet out so you can see the back side of it. With a little luck, you'll see some heat damage/melting there. Honestly, I'd hope it's the outlet that failed - it's not only the most common failure point but it's also one of the cheapest and easiest components to replace.

 

[Lauren]

I will have to check that. I do appreciate the input. The plug does reach in a small "u" shape to outlet with no issues.

 

[Lauren]

Thank you! I see what appears to be some melting. I will call an electrician! Any other words of advice in making sure this gets handled correctly?

 

[Maquis]

I will have to check that. I do appreciate the input. The plug does reach in a small "u" shape to outlet with no issues.

The uneven coloring of that receptacle looks suspicious. That’s a Leviton basic grade receptacle - not an industrial type. At least a couple forum members have experienced those failing.

Edit - I posted as you posted the last picture. I think you’ve found the problem. Ask the electrician to replace with a Hubble industrial grade receptacle.

 

[Nemy]

Unfortunately it's also a leviton outlet which hasn't had the best track record. But you wired it all then paid an electrician to connect it?! Wiring/replacing an outlet is pretty straightforward but I agree with everyone else that that is the likely culprit. 4 screws will tell you everything you need to know.

Edit: yes call the electrician to come back and replace and/or replace it yourself. Also check the wiring to make sure it wasn't burned and need to be replaced. Ask for/purchase an proper industrial outlet.

 

[Lauren]

Turn the circuit breaker off if not already, then unscrew those 4 screws and you can pull the outlet out so you can see the back side of it. With a little luck, you'll see some heat damage/melting there. Honestly, I'd hope it's the outlet that failed - it's not only the most common failure point but it's also one of the cheapest and easiest components to replace.

Yes! It appears to be the case. I so appreciate the input on this forum.

 

[A-A-Ron]

Thank you! I see what appears to be some melting. I will call an electrician! Any other words of advice in making sure this gets handled correctly?

That's great news - easily the quickest and cheapest thing to fix. If your electrician provided the plug, there may be a warranty and they may swap it for free. The leviton's are hit and miss but you've got decent enough odds a second one won't melt. Or see if they can put in a better, commercial grade plug.

 

[Lauren]

Unfortunately it's also a leviton outlet which hasn't had the best track record. But you wired it all then paid an electrician to connect it?! Wiring/replacing an outlet is pretty straightforward but I agree with everyone else that that is the likely culprit. 4 screws will tell you everything you need to know.

Edit: yes call the electrician to come back and replace and/or replace it yourself. Also check the wiring to make sure it wasn't burned and need to be replaced. Ask for/purchase an proper industrial outlet.

We bought the thick gauge wire and my husband fed it through to box and garage wall WITHOUT any connecting. The electrician came to add to our box and then connect to outlet in garage. We bought outlet from home improvement store. Is the outlet not strong enough for voltage? What is needed?

 

[DaMeatMan]

You....don't see the melted plug on the right of your outlet? That thing is a goner.

100% as Scooby24 pointed out your NEMA 14-50R outlet is the culprit, and you can very clearly see the right most prong inlet is melted. The issue is that despite using an electrician who used a plug that is "rated for 50A", these outlets are not all created equal, and they are certainly not rated for 50A continuously despite the rating.

With that said, as others have mentioned here many electricians are new to EVSE's and many just don't quite realize the inherent dangers of trying to pull 40A - 50A from a cheap run of the mill NEMA 14-50R receptacle that is readily available at all big box stores. I myself have actually had allot of difficulties in getting an electrician to install my own HUBBEL NEMA 14-50R, and they insist on using their own supplied equipment. I tried very politely pointing out that I bought an industrial grade outlet that is double the weight (due to oversized conductors) to handle the continuous 50A load of industrial equipment for 8 to 10 hours at a time, and I've had two electricians flat out refuse to do the work, as if I'm somehow insulting them by pointing out a very common and very serious issue that I'm trying to avoid for my family's own safety.

That said, something needs to be done from a safety standards point of view, and the saftey ratings agencies for the industry as a whole needs to catch up to what's actually going on in the real world with EVSE's, and the electrical equipment being used to support them, as well as their inherent failures in terms of how they are being used to draw 50A continuously for 8 to 10 hours at a time while people are asleep. Obviously a failure here due to a 50A rated plugs inability to actually handle that load continuously while people sleep at night is potentially disastrous!

With regards to my own installation, I simply booked another electrician to install a NEMA 14-50R outlet in a few weeks time, but as soon as they walk away I'll be removing their outlet and installing my own industrual grade 14-5R HUBBEL outlet which I already own.

 

[Maquis]

We bought the thick gauge wire and my husband fed it through to box and garage wall WITHOUT any connecting. The electrician came to add to our box and then connect to outlet in garage. We bought outlet from home improvement store. Is the outlet not strong enough for voltage? What is needed?

You have 2 problems - the Home Depot receptacle. Replace it with a Hubble industrial grade. It will cost at least 4 times that Leviton.
Second, you have a 50A receptacle outlet on a 60A breaker. The breaker needs to be 50A.

The wire should be 6AWG. It will be marked on the jacket.

 

[Lauren]

100% as Scooby24 pointed out your NEMA 14-50R outlet is the culprit, and you can very clearly see the right most prong inlet is melted. The issue is that despite using an electrician who used a plug that is "rated for 50A", these outlets are not all created equal, and they are certainly not rated for 50A continuously despite the rating.

With that said, as others have mentioned here many electricians are new to EVSE's and many just don't quite realize the inherent dangers of trying to pull 40A - 50A from a cheap run of the mill NEMA 14-50R receptacle that is readily available at all big box stores. I myself have actually had allot of difficulties in getting an electrician to install my own HUBBEL NEMA 14-50R, and they insist on using their own supplied equipment. I tried very politely pointing out that I bought an industrial grade outlet that is double the weight (due to oversized conductors) to handle the continuous 50A load of industrial equipment for 8 to 10 hours at a time, and I've had two electricians flat out refuse to do the work, as if I'm somehow insulting them by pointing out a very common and very serious issue that I'm trying to avoid for my family's own safety.

That said, something needs to be done from a safety standards point of view, and the saftey ratings agencies for the industry as a whole needs to catch up to what's actually going on in the real world with EVSE's, and the electrical equipment being used to support them, as well as their inherent failures in terms of how they are being used to draw 50A continuously for 8 to 10 hours at a time while people are asleep. Obviously a failure here due to a 50A rated plugs inability to actually handle that load continuously while people sleep at night is potentially disastrous!

With regards to my own installation, I simply booked another electrician to install a NEMA 14-50R outlet in a few weeks time, but as soon as they walk away I'll be removing their outlet and installing my own industrual grade 14-5R HUBBEL outlet which I already own.

Excellent points here. I so appreciate all the help. You saved us from having an even larger problem.

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