Burning plastic smell
April 27, 2009 10:24 AM Subscribe
Electricity Filter: What's causing this burning plastic smell?
A couple of weeks ago I used my paper shredder in the room where I have my computer (computer, printer, modem, router, phone, USB hub and a lamp plugged in). Hooked up to a battery back-up surge protector.
Used the paper shredder on the outlet that wasn't being used. But they're on the same circuit. Shredder no longer works. At all. Won't even blink at me.
After using the shredder, my surge protector started smelling like burning plastic. At the time, I didn't make the connection about the shredder and thought the battery back-up was going bad.
Used a spare surge protector, and it started making the same burning plastic smell.
Electrician came out today and couldn't find anything wrong with the circuit or the wiring. He said he's pretty sure my house won't burn down, but being the neurotic freak that I am, I of course don't believe him. Or should I?
Anyone else ever experience this? I'm going to go buy a brand new battery back-up surge protector and see what happens, but in the meantime, thoughts?
Thanks!!!
A couple of weeks ago I used my paper shredder in the room where I have my computer (computer, printer, modem, router, phone, USB hub and a lamp plugged in). Hooked up to a battery back-up surge protector.
Used the paper shredder on the outlet that wasn't being used. But they're on the same circuit. Shredder no longer works. At all. Won't even blink at me.
After using the shredder, my surge protector started smelling like burning plastic. At the time, I didn't make the connection about the shredder and thought the battery back-up was going bad.
Used a spare surge protector, and it started making the same burning plastic smell.
Electrician came out today and couldn't find anything wrong with the circuit or the wiring. He said he's pretty sure my house won't burn down, but being the neurotic freak that I am, I of course don't believe him. Or should I?
Anyone else ever experience this? I'm going to go buy a brand new battery back-up surge protector and see what happens, but in the meantime, thoughts?
Thanks!!!
Response by poster: Shredder no longer works anywhere, it's completely dead...very sad.
Socket does not feel warm.
The plug itself never felt warm.
And I never even thought of trying the surge protectors in other rooms--I'll try that out tonight.
The electrician was a young kid (journeyman I think the noobs are called), so that didn't make me feel too good when he finished up either.
posted by Zoyashka at 10:50 AM on April 27, 2009
Socket does not feel warm.
The plug itself never felt warm.
And I never even thought of trying the surge protectors in other rooms--I'll try that out tonight.
The electrician was a young kid (journeyman I think the noobs are called), so that didn't make me feel too good when he finished up either.
posted by Zoyashka at 10:50 AM on April 27, 2009
My guess is the shredder shorted out which would cause extreme load on the UPS. This caused the UPS to overheat and probably scorch something. Your electrician probably knows next-to-nothing about UPSes.
Your shredder is probably dead for good and your UPS should probably be checked out. For future reference: Don't plug stuff into a UPS that you don't need plugged into it.
posted by chairface at 11:09 AM on April 27, 2009
Your shredder is probably dead for good and your UPS should probably be checked out. For future reference: Don't plug stuff into a UPS that you don't need plugged into it.
posted by chairface at 11:09 AM on April 27, 2009
It could be that something in the shredder shorted while you were using it, causing a large amount of current to rush through your surge protector, which in turn caused the sacrificial components within it to fry. This might explain the smell.
The most common type of surge protector relies on metal oxide varistors (MOVs) (wikipedia link) to divert the voltage surge (howstuffworks link). The downside of MOVs is that when they are called upon, they become less and less effective. If they see enough surges, they die completely and will let all subsequent surges continue on to your plugged-in devices.
posted by pmbuko at 11:10 AM on April 27, 2009
The most common type of surge protector relies on metal oxide varistors (MOVs) (wikipedia link) to divert the voltage surge (howstuffworks link). The downside of MOVs is that when they are called upon, they become less and less effective. If they see enough surges, they die completely and will let all subsequent surges continue on to your plugged-in devices.
posted by pmbuko at 11:10 AM on April 27, 2009
It's likely that you overloaded the UPS.
Check the amp rating on the shredder and the supply rating of the UPS. If the motor in the shredder draws more current than the UPS can supply, the internal circuits in the UPS would get hot (giving you the burning smell) and its output voltage would drop. The low voltage could then fry the windings in the shredder's motor.
None of these things would cause a problem with the wall outlet, which can easily supply a bunch of shredder motors.
But the UPS isn't designed for motors, nor is there a reason to plug anything motorized into a UPS. Save the UPS for things that you'll need when the power is out.
posted by TurnedIntoANewt at 11:12 AM on April 27, 2009
Check the amp rating on the shredder and the supply rating of the UPS. If the motor in the shredder draws more current than the UPS can supply, the internal circuits in the UPS would get hot (giving you the burning smell) and its output voltage would drop. The low voltage could then fry the windings in the shredder's motor.
None of these things would cause a problem with the wall outlet, which can easily supply a bunch of shredder motors.
But the UPS isn't designed for motors, nor is there a reason to plug anything motorized into a UPS. Save the UPS for things that you'll need when the power is out.
posted by TurnedIntoANewt at 11:12 AM on April 27, 2009
Response by poster: Just for clarification, I did not plug the shredder into the surge protector--just straight into the outlet on the other wall.
Thanks!
posted by Zoyashka at 11:15 AM on April 27, 2009
Thanks!
posted by Zoyashka at 11:15 AM on April 27, 2009
Hmm. It's hard to see how the two problems could be related, unless the shredder, when it failed, pulled down the line voltage without tripping the circuit breaker (unlikely).
To troubleshoot further I'd need to ask you some questions:
1. Did the circuit breaker open when you were using the shredder?
2. How old is the shredder?
3. What is the current or power rating of the shredder?
4. Did you try to use the shredder after you switched to the second battery back-up (UPS)?
5. What is the output rating of the UPS?
6. What is the total power used by all of the devices plugged in to the UPS?
In the absence of any other information, my next guess (hopefully better than the previous one) is that #6 is greater than #5. Meaning that you have too much plugged in to the UPS but didn't notice the smell until you went to unplug the shredder.
posted by TurnedIntoANewt at 11:51 AM on April 27, 2009
To troubleshoot further I'd need to ask you some questions:
1. Did the circuit breaker open when you were using the shredder?
2. How old is the shredder?
3. What is the current or power rating of the shredder?
4. Did you try to use the shredder after you switched to the second battery back-up (UPS)?
5. What is the output rating of the UPS?
6. What is the total power used by all of the devices plugged in to the UPS?
In the absence of any other information, my next guess (hopefully better than the previous one) is that #6 is greater than #5. Meaning that you have too much plugged in to the UPS but didn't notice the smell until you went to unplug the shredder.
posted by TurnedIntoANewt at 11:51 AM on April 27, 2009
How old is your home? Wiring in the olden days is more likely to have more weirdness and shortcuts than a more recent job. If it's pre-WWII, that might be an important element.
Also, you tend to get what you pay for with shredders. Unfortunately, they die fairly quickly if you go for a cheap model. It seems like $50 and up shredders endure best. Check reviews online, too, before you buy.
posted by mccarty.tim at 3:15 PM on April 27, 2009
Also, you tend to get what you pay for with shredders. Unfortunately, they die fairly quickly if you go for a cheap model. It seems like $50 and up shredders endure best. Check reviews online, too, before you buy.
posted by mccarty.tim at 3:15 PM on April 27, 2009
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Does the socket (in the wall, where you plug things in) feel warm?
Does the plug from the UPS/Surge protector, that goes into the wall, feel warm?
Do the "hot plastic" smells in the surge protector disappear when you use any
other outlet in the house?
If any of these answers are yes, stop using that outlet. I don't know what the
electrician did, or what kind of tests he did, but there is a 50/50 chance that
he was incompetent, and missed a problem that another electrician might have
found.
My experience with faulty sockets and circuits is more general, and does not
specifically address your use of a UPS.
posted by the Real Dan at 10:40 AM on April 27, 2009