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I have one outlet that I frequently plug my laptop in and out of, that feels "rusty" now when I plug it in or pull out the plug. When I plug that laptop in to other outlets, I do not get this difficult, hard to plug in, rusty feel. The plug smoothly glides in those. I have a few kitchen outlets that are older, and one bathroom GFI, that also are difficult to push in a plug or pull out the plug. They feel rusty, like there is a lot of friction when you plug and unplug into those as well. Almost feels like a key into a lock, that needs to be lubricated. What is the cause of this? Is it dangerous or normal after much use? What should be done to correct this?
How long have you lived there?
If some time... are all of these suddenly new observations?
Are these British or US style devices?
Before you "fix" anything... make sure something is actually broken.
I have lived here 3 years and I didn't have to plug and unplug my laptop in the beginning. I had a better battery life in the beginning, whereas now I have to take the plug and cord into another room to plug it in to use it. But the lower plug on the same outlet is smooth still, whereas the upper one I always use fnow feels rough, difficult, grainy, almost rusty, like a key into a lock that needs lubrication.
The one I describe above is a leviton that it about 3 years old. The rest I have no idea, probably much much older.
The tension in the receptacle determines how hard or easy. Although some cheapies are just poorly made and out of tolerance.
Hospital grade stuff can take 2 hands they are so tight.
The one I just noticed is doing this, after alot of plugging and unplugging, is a leviton outlet that is only 3 years old. All of my leviton outlets that age are operating fine, but I don't plug and unplug into them. Whatever is plugged in them stays plugged, so they don't get alot of friction. It's only the outlet that I keep unplugging and plugging in to.
It seems any other outlets that I also plug and unplug things alot seem stiff or difficult also, but those are not levitons. I don't know what they are.
Is it dangerous - unlikely unless the outlet feels hot or you are using high amperage appliances.
What causes it - could be corrosion, could be some mild arcing occurred at some point.
How can it be fixed - the contacts are similar to contacts on an old auto distributor or contacts on a relay, but of much cheaper material. You could cut the breaker off and use a points file to smooth any roughness, but it is a simple job to replace them with something better. An electrical distribution system is not a good place to have junk.
I always plug my laptop and desk top into a protected power strip with a GFCI and surge protector.
I suspect the outlet that feels rusty or what might have arced a few times causing a rough spot.
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