Intermatic Wall Timer Sparks, Trips Breaker

[skeletor]

I have an Intermatic wall timer, model 885L that controls a single heat lamp in a bathroom. The house and timer (20 amp rating) are about 32 years old. Tonight while switching on the timer, a spark shot out of the wall and (fortunately) the breaker tripped before anything else happened.

Are there any known problems with these timers? I can have it easily replaced, but it gives me an uneasy feeling that this happened. I'm curious why something would work fine for years and suddenly fail like that. If it is a timer issue, I will have others in my house replaced too.

Kudos to the circuit breaker designer, it may have prevented Intermatic from starting a fire!

[IRBH]

I have an Intermatic wall timer, model 885L that controls a single heat lamp in a bathroom. The house and timer (20 amp rating) are about 32 years old. Tonight while switching on the timer, a spark shot out of the wall and (fortunately) the breaker tripped before anything else happened.

Are there any known problems with these timers? I can have it easily replaced, but it gives me an uneasy feeling that this happened. I'm curious why something would work fine for years and suddenly fail like that. If it is a timer issue, I will have others in my house replaced too.

Kudos to the circuit breaker designer, it may have prevented Intermatic from starting a fire!

I'd be cking for a grnded/shorted heater before blaming the timer!
(last closure in ckt gets the arc)

[jbryan7766]

I agree IRBH! Check to see if it is grounded out some where. Sparks to shot out in my opinion is an indication of a short.

[Alex Tucker]

This all information for intermatic wall timer sparks while switching on the timer, a spark shot out of the wall and (fortunately) the breaker tripped before anything else happened.

[madhat]

My Uncle lost his entire house to an old defective bath heatlamp, it started a smoldering fire in the attic, after his morning shower. When the sun hit the roof, air started moving and that's all it took.

[kdean1]

Install a 20 amp switch and measure the load on the heater. If it is within limits, replace the timer.

[buford]

At that age i am surprised it still worked.