Close, can you be more specific?Insulated terminals?
The crimp terminals have insulation on them, I suspect this melted.
I recently replaced a set of floor pocket outlets with charred neutrals as well. Why is it so common, it seems.
From what I can see in the picture the damage is more to the crimp connector than the screw terminal, is it possible that the crimp was done loosely and that cause arcing under the insulation which then melted resulting in a charred mess.
Let me guess these were taken from some US floor pockets right around where a cyc would go...
The ring terminal has melted but why?
Namely because these aren't "industrial" ring terminals. Meaning they aren't rated for over 600 watts. When you plug 1000w-2000w into said plug the weakest link fails first.
You have to watch it with those crimp terminals. Next time you go to home depot look at the wattage rating on them. They are ususally rated for 600-1200 watts. You need the heavy duty ones. Also do not use regular crimp terminals on the ceramics in par cans. They melt and catch on fire. I use the high temp crimp terminals from 3M. They are rated for 300 degrees C in which i'm sure a par can will not be a par can anymore at 300 deg C. I also use ratchet crimpers with all crimp connections. You can buy ratchet crimpers for around 30 bucks. I bought the paladen 1300 series with the interchangeable dies and they ran me around 70 if i remember correctly.
Think y'all have touched on most possible reasons for the damage. I have had connecters just melt down for no obvious reason. I usually suspect loose screws. Who knows what a dying lamp might create when the filiment shifts. Super bright, and a short explosive life.
Gorg 12, there is a fairly easy way to deal with high temp wire nuts. Your nearest appliance parts store should have some high temparture ceramic wire nuts.
I sort of learned this the hard way, elctrical tape and plastic wirenuts should never be used inside a lamp housing.
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