Attn: Computer Experts and Electricians

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by Downthestretch55

I can't answer your first question...I'm ignorant there.
Your second question, though, can be traced. Find your service panel. It's what comes into your house after the meter. Is it fuses (old stuff) or breakers? Is it a 100 or 200 box? If the circuit he put it on didn't pop a breaker or a fuse, your wiring should be ok. Did he put in a "ground fault" outlet? Take a look at the bill he gave you. See what he put in.
And don't run cords, especially off 14-2 wire. Ask him questions.

DTS,

It's a breaker, he seemed surprised that the mini fire did not kick the breaker, before the wiring burnt out. The new outlet has a GFC, which he told me would definitely prevent any future problems. I have a feeling that some of the old owners of the house may have wired it themselves, the house was built in 1926.I'll look at the bill this weekend. Thanks for the reply.

I have no mechanical aptitude or knowledge of these things, I respect people who do this work, because I know they work hard and went to school for it and simply I have no ability to do this, but sometimes I think they know they can take advantage of people. The other end of the spectrum is that I had a plumber at my house for about 5 hours and he only charged me $200 for everything..