Why did 2 holes in my outlet turn blue

[KathyG]

Why did 2 holes in my outlet turn blue

 

[telectrix]

need a bit more info. e.g. pics? some cable made in the 60's (over here anyway) reacted and produced a greenish slime, which tended to leak out at outlets.

 

[littlespark]

need a bit more info. e.g. pics? some cable made in the 60's (over here anyway) reacted and produced a greenish slime, which tended to leak out at outlets.

Ectoplasm.... who you gonna call?

 

[KathyG]

need a bit more info. e.g. pics? some cable made in the 60's (over here anyway) reacted and produced a greenish slime, which tended to leak out at outlets.

OK. I'll try to send pic. Thank you

 

[KathyG]

OK. I'll try to send pic. Thank you

 

[KathyG]

OK. I'll try to send pic. Thank you

 

[loz2754]

Green goo. Or verdigris. Do a search online. It's the result of an additive that was used to make the PVC cables in the 70s.

 

[westward10]

Maybe @Megawatt can shed some light as to whether this is a problem in the States as well as here.

 

[pc1966]

Any chance that there has been water seeping in to the back of the socket?

In any case the socket should be replaced, and if the cable is degrading that as well.

If it is only the socket (e.g. water damage) then that is a fairly easy DIY change if you have the knowledge, but if you are unsure in any way we would simply advise you to get a local electrician in to check/fix it. If you have any doubts about the advice/quotation from them then come back for more advice and one of our USA members such as @Megawatt is likely to be in a position to advise.

 

[DPG]

When I first read the original post I thought it was some sort of medical issue.

 

[telectrix]

i guessed it straight away. the pic. tells all. (and i've not even had my breakfast beer yet).

 

[KathyG]

Green goo. Or verdigris. Do a search online. It's the result of an additive that was used to make the PVC cables in the 70s.

Thank you for your help.

 

[KathyG]

Any chance that there has been water seeping in to the back of the socket?

In any case the socket should be replaced, and if the cable is degrading that as well.

If it is only the socket (e.g. water damage) then that is a fairly easy DIY change if you have the knowledge, but if you are unsure in any way we would simply advise you to get a local electrician in to check/fix it. If you have any doubts about the advice/quotation from them then come back for more advice and one of our USA members such as @Megawatt is likely to be in a position to advise.

Thank you very much for your advice. This all makes sense to me now. I am calling electrician and someone to check my roof right away. I wasn't sure if roof was leaking in the next room in very small area along the crown moulding. I can't thank you enough for your reply!

 

[KathyG]

Any chance that there has been water seeping in to the back of the socket?

In any case the socket should be replaced, and if the cable is degrading that as well.

If it is only the socket (e.g. water damage) then that is a fairly easy DIY change if you have the knowledge, but if you are unsure in any way we would simply advise you to get a local electrician in to check/fix it. If you have any doubts about the advice/quotation from them then come back for more advice and one of our USA members such as @Megawatt is likely to be in a position to advise.

Yes

 

[telectrix]

it may not be water ingress. as suggested, it could be the pvc and copper in the wires reacting.

 

[KathyG]

Green goo. Or verdigris. Do a search online. It's the result of an additive that was used to make the PVC cables in the 70s.

Thanks

 

[KathyG]

Green goo. Or verdigris. Do a search online. It's the result of an additive that was used to make the PVC cables in the 70s.

I will thanks

 

[KathyG]

Thank you everyone for your replies to my question. This has been very helpful and I appreciate your time. Again, thank you to all of you.

 

[Soi disant]

Green Goo

Green goo is a phenomena sometimes encountered in electrical installations constructed in the late 1960s

www.voltimum.co.uk

 

[telectrix]

pedant in me says phenomenon. phenomena is plural. ??

 

[DPG]

pedant in me says phenomenon. phenomena is plural. ??

Oi, that's my job being pedantic!

 

[Soi disant]

There should be a comma as shown:

Oi, that's my job, being pedantic!

?

 

[DPG]

There should be a comma as shown:


?

Fair comment; can't argue with that. ?

Only cos I've had a couple of strong IPAs though!

 

[telectrix]

at least you didn'y say IPA's. ?

 

[Soi disant]

A few hours ago I was eyeing the few bottles of Brewdog Mr President I have left and trying to weigh up the balance between drinking one there and then or hoarding it for a more auspicious occasion on account of the (£&%%'_*$&#!s having stopped making it ?

 

[DPG]

My latest delivery:

 

[Soi disant]

Spooky.

In the end I decided against the Mr President and had one of these instead

Quite nice, but not really hoppy enough for my taste.

And talking of hoppy - how come there was no rabbit in my shipment?

 

[DPG]

Spooky.

In the end I decided against the Mr President and had one of these instead

View attachment 84775
Quite nice, but not really hoppy enough for my taste.

And talking of hoppy - how come there was no rabbit in my shipment?

How strange!

I gave the Freedom 7.5 out of 10.

The rabbit likes a beer also. Nothing too fruity though.

 

[littlespark]

I think this thread went off tangent about #20....

it’s a new record. Most of them veer off another 6 or 7?

 

[nicebutdim]

The signs were there by post #10.

 

[DPG]

The signs were there by post #10.

I thought, post #10 offered, an incisive. and. informative's opinion, relative, to the discussion. admittedly, the last IPA was a bit strong. and citrusy, obviously.

Punctuation check - all good.

 

[telectrix]

Punctuation check - all good.

No, It's not. a comma after "thought" and "offered";
full stops after "incisive" & "and"; comma after "relative";

 

[DPG]

Punctuation check - all good.

No, It's not. a comma after "thought" and "offered";
full stops after "incisive" & "and"; comma after "relative";

Bugger.

 

[Soi disant]

I gave the Freedom 7.5 out of 10.

Ah - I noticed as I was rinsing out the can earlier,that I'd drunk Freedom Lager, not Pale Ale - very similar can.

The rabbit likes a beer also. Nothing too fruity though.

I find it depends on what food it's gloing with. If it is.

Or the weather - a good Kriek on a hot summer's day, glorious.

 

[Megawatt]

Why did 2 holes in my outlet turn blue

I’ve never seen blue outlets but I’m going to say it’s the material inside the outlet which makes it a tamper proof receptacle

 

[DPG]

I’ve never seen blue outlets but I’m going to say it’s the material inside the outlet which makes it a tamper proof receptacle

Have a zoom in closer MW. It's either corrosion or green goo.

 

[telectrix]

I’ve never seen blue outlets but I’m going to say it’s the material inside the outlet which makes it a tamper proof receptacle

back in the 60's some cables (in the uk anyway) had some plasticiser in the manufacturing mix. this eventually led to reactions with the copper, producing this green goo which leached out of the cable ends onto terminals and hence dripping out of outlets. a bit like the green on a church copper roof before us Scousers weigh it in.

 

[Megawatt]

Have a zoom in closer MW. It's either corrosion or green goo.

I give up, I don’t have a clue what that is

 

[telectrix]

I give up, I don’t have a clue what that is

post #37 explains.

 

[littlespark]

post #37 explains.

Post #2 explained it, and it was your post, Tel..... don’t tell me you’ve forgotten already.

 

[pc1966]

More info on the goo here:

What is the green goo coming out of my twin and earth cable? Why is it happening?

What is the green goo coming out of my twin and earth cable? Why is it happening?

www.whyprysmian.co.uk

 

[pc1966]

And an article with a couple of photos:

Green Goo

If your home was built or rewired between 1965 and 1971 then this may affect you. What am I talking about? Green goo or to give it its correct name ‘cable greening’. Have you noticed a dark green substance, similar in appearance to Fairy Liquid running out of electrical switches and sockets? If...

www.alliedelectrical.co.uk

Horror stories to tell young electricians around a camp fire