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Burnt Thermostat wires

harry_3
harry_3 Member Posts: 3
in THE MAIN WALL
Besides excessive voltage or a staple nicking a thermostat wire when installed, any other thoughts on what could cause thermostat wire to overheat and burn the jacket about three feet long? (the heat pipe was in the bay however about ten inches from the wire that was up against the floor joist).

The building is about 30 years old.

The depth of char of the floor joist was about one inch deep for about six inches before the fire was detected.

Comments

  • Mark Hunt
    Mark Hunt Member Posts: 4,908
    Sounds like


    Someone put some serious voltage to it.


    Mark H

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  • Scott25
    Scott25 Member Posts: 30
    guess

    Maybe the isulation of the wire failed over time? I have seen some types of wire, after a few years, have some serious deterioration in the insulation in a warm environment....

    Some type of movement in the past may have caused cracking and an eventual short.

    Just guessing out loud but it sounds like a short that didnt cause an over current limit until it got red hot.

    It only takes a spark to get a fire going....... :-)

    Scott
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