Extension cord exploded, why?detailed?

I had an extension plugged into my bedroom wall with my alarm clock and small reading light plugged in because neither the lamp nor the alarm clock could reach the outlet. Anyway the end of the cord where my lamp and clock are plugged it suddenly popped and sparked. I quickly tried to unplug them and it sparked and popped again the second I touched the cord only this time it was bigger. I'm lucky I wasn't hurt and lucky the old shag carpet(ick) didn't catch fire. Anyway I didn't have the cord over loaded and its only a couple years old. What might have caused this to happen? amazingly my alarm clock stayed on the entire time but the lamp was off and we don't have any electrical problems in the house. I finally got the cord unplugged from the wall. The cord outlet and lamp plug are now both cinged black. theres no problem at the wall outlet. I just want to know what might have caused this, no rude answers please.

Extension cord exploded, why?detailed?ballet

My guess is that the insulation between the 2 wires in the cord was defective, got damaged by repetitive bending or getting pulled on etc. the 2 wires shorted, causing the "explosion and popping". it might also have happened if something conductive such as water or tinfoil etc dropped between the lamp plug and the lead cord plug shorting the prongs. When this happens, it doesn't always blow the fuse or trip the breaker (that only happens if the short draws enough current). When you touched the cord it porbably caused the the two bare wires to touch again causing the second sparking. By the way, as long as you are only grabbing by the plastic part of the cord (and it isn't wet) there shouldn't be any danger fron trying to unplug it, even if it is sparking as the plastic does not conduct electricity. Your alarm clock might have a battery back-up, maybe that's why it stayed on.

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Extension cord exploded, why?detailed?

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