# I see sparks when I unplug something **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 22, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666 "2004-01-22T21:18:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/1 "2004-01-22T21:18:03Z")
In my new pad, there are a couple outlets that seem to behave like miniature pyrokinetics. Whenever I plug in or unplug a minor appliance, they spark with a blue or a blue-yellow flame. I’ve also noticed some scorch marks on the plug. Is this anything serious, like indicating an ungrounded outlet? Am I drawing too many amps on the same circuit? Or just my apartment’s way of welcoming me to the city? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/2 "2004-01-22T21:22:41Z")
A great way to test for this kind of phenomenon is to take a paper clip and insert it into…:eek: Uh Oh ! wrong advice meter going off!! Seriously, You are probably not grounded to those outlets…have you looked at the outlet your dryer, or oven go to? Do they do the same thing? If you landlord isn’t of the slum variety, I’d call them ans ask…this seems to have the potential to not be a good thing! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/3 "2004-01-22T21:27:55Z")
I bet a little gasoline would clean those scorch marks right up. **Barbarian** , IANAE but that sounds a tad unusual and potentially dangerous. Have you shown your landlord/ Super/apartment manager? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/4 "2004-01-22T21:47:22Z")
A couple of things come to mind right off: 1. If the appliance is not turned off when you unplug it, you may draw an arc. Some older crockpots did not have an ‘off’ setting, so you would get an arc every time you plugged or unplugged them. Make sure the appliance is turned completely off before unplugging. 2. The burn marks may indicate that the outlet needs to be replaced. After years of use and abuse, the tines that hold the plug in place and that transfer electricity to the appliance plug become worn and loose. If the plug isn’t fitting snugly into the outlet, arcing can occur. This is not a good thing, although probably not an immediate danger to you. If the plug seems a little loosy-goosey, replace the outlet. Most new kitchen appliances are not grounded because they have plastic casings, so grounding may not be the problem. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/5 "2004-01-22T22:18:52Z")
It may also be an indication that one of the wires connected to the outlet is not securely fastened, and the movement of plugging/unplugging appliances causes it to temporarily disconnect/reconnect. I would definitely replace the outlets in question. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/6 "2004-01-22T22:31:04Z")
**Chefguy’s** advice is sound. A few questions: 1. Do _all_ of your outlets do this, or just certain ones? 2. Does the spark appear to be an electrical arc between the plug and receptacle? If so, does it usually occur when plugging, unplugging, or both? 3. For an outlet that behaves this way, does it spark for any appliance, or just certain appliances? If it sparks for just certain appliances, are these appliances on or off when you plug them in? ---
**Author:** ![Ice97531](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@Ice97531](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice97531)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/7 "2004-01-22T22:50:38Z")
[QUOTE] I bet a little gasoline would clean those scorch marks right up. [QUOTE] :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/8 "2004-01-22T23:51:08Z")
[QUOTE=Ice97531] [QUOTE] I bet a little gasoline would clean those scorch marks right up. > [@](#): > > :smack: Since you appear to be fairly new, you can be forgiven if you are not familiar with **lieu’s** unique brand of humor. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/9 "2004-01-22T23:55:31Z")
I’ve been giving this some thought. The sparks _could_ be due to an ungrounded electrical system. _If_ this is the case, the situation could be dangerous. A brief explanation follows: The electric power entering your home is fed from a step down transformer. The center tap from the transformer’s secondary connects to the following: 1. All neutral wires throughout the house 2. All ground wires throughout the house (if applicable) 3. A copper rod in the earth close to your house If the connection to #3 is missing altogether, the transformer’s secondary could float up to the primary voltage via internal leakage resistance. The primary voltage is around 7000 volts. The primary-to-secondary leakage resistance would form a voltage divider with the conductor-to-ground leakage resistances in your home wiring. Depending on what these values are, the common mode voltage in the house wiring could be quite high. At any rate, I would find out if the center tap from the transformer’s secondary is properly grounded. If you decide to investigate this yourself, be very careful; if the center tap is not grounded, touching _any_ conductor in your electrical system would be a bad idea, even with the breakers off. This includes all neutrals and grounds. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/10 "2004-01-23T02:46:57Z")
I’ve checked around-- it’s only that outlet, and it does it with anything that happens to be turned on when plugged in or unplugged. The only problem appliance is going to be my kettle-- because there is no off switch on said item. That being said, there is no scorching on the _outlet_, just the tines of the plug (although it seems to be random which one will spark at any given time). I’ve also found out that there were some major problems with my building as a result of the August blackout. They had to replace one of the major switches from the main electrical line, so this could easily be a random offshoot. ---
**Author:** ![tadc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@tadc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tadc)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2004, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-see-sparks-when-i-unplug-something/225666/11 "2004-01-23T06:21:42Z")
It’s entirely normal for a turned-on appliance to spark when you unplug it. Especially one that draws lots of current like a kettle. Perhaps this outlet is old and the contacts are corroded(it’s in the kitchen after all), which would cause sparking to be more likely. The sparking is what’s causing your scorching. It’s probably nothing, but replacing an outlet is simple. Better safe than sorry. Next time you unplug it, feel the kettle’s metal prongs. If they are hot (not just warm, that’s normal for a kettle), stop using that outlet.