What Causes an Outlet to Spark?
Sometimes, when you plug an electrical appliance into an outlet, you may notice a small blue spark. In most situations, this is a normal event as the electrons begin to flow into the appliance’s power cord. At other times, however, a spark from an electrical outlet could start a fire or severely damage the plug. It is important for homeowners to understand why an electrical outlet may spark or short out without warning. The electricity that powers a home comes in through a supply line connected to the main electrical grid. In countries like the United States, this supply line carries electricity at approximately 115 to 120 volts, with an average amperage, or frequency, of 60 cycles per second. In other words, the electricity flowing through the circuits of your home is running very fast and hot. Ideally, it should flow through the circuit and back out to the main grid without much interruption. The electrical outlets in your home essentially tap into this fast-moving electrical stream
