That would be rare . I have seen mine wander up to 136v once though

I'm uploading it now. Had to record a couple of videos to get the flash because it's a split seconds. Also it's at the bottom where the wires are.

Here is the video.




EDIT: sorry first video had my name on my account in it didn't want it to be there. Re uploaded.

I think that’s arcing under load like a first thought. You can see the initial torque as it’s spooling up . As soon as it gets to its rpms the arc is gone

is that normal? I have no idea if my old garbage disposal did the same thing or not. I only found out with this one because I plugged it in without the metal plate on it and saw the flash.

Just posting ITT because I spent all day doing home improvement stuff. Ready to chill the f out now. Feels good though.

this. how is it "arcing" if the connections are solid. electrical motors will arc when they start but it would be very small. if its in the motor that is normal.

Im not totally knowledgeable on disposals.

But that arcing you see is a big rush of current

Youre def. Not on a gfci right? It would prob trip if so

But motors, like the ones in disposals can require large rushes of current to get started, but this is why you want your breakers and wire oversized and capable of handling that large arc (flow of current) as opposed to not. If your wiring is undersized it may not trip the breaker, the problem continues until it overheats

If the disposal stays on i would think its normal, and its just upon start up. But im not totally positive. And im not sure youd want that every time you switch it on under the sink

I guess you should call the manufacturer of the disposal to find out if thats normal

Thinking of saying screw it and just hooking it back up. This thing is driving me insane.

Cousins and friend have the same model garbage disposal. Cousin’s doesn’t spark, buddies does.

So, op.. im an electrician

I went ahead and asked a person at work today.. and he said that garbage disposals are constantly on. So the second youre hooking those connections on it wants to turn on. So basically in that moment youre seeing an arc, because the motor on the disposal wants to turn on instantly and motors require more energy upon start up

He said to turn the switch off. But i feel like thats assuming a lot because you never talked about a switch. Is there a switch controlling that outlet? I wonder if its possible he was talking about a switch on the device - PROB NOT though.

He said turn the switch off before hooking it up and it wont do that. Maybe hes talking an air switch? Idk. Guess its the switch that controls the disposal

Anyways, i would go to your panel and turn off all the breakers. Because it doesnt sound like you know which circuit youre talking about. Hook your disposal up. And turn on all the breakers again and see what happens

Hope this helps. Im just relaying what someone else told me and trying to conjecture/ apply what he was saying

It sounds like that little spark doesnt matter

I'd just put the cover back on and call it a day.

i'd be more concerned with the way it flops around when you plug it in.
Or have you not mounted it?

I called customer service today and said it was normal. The garbage disposal is controlled by a switch but when I was testing it I was not using a switch outlet. It happens in one with a switch and without.It was flopping because it was not mounted. I removed it when I saw the spark and flipped upside down to see what was going on when I plugged it in.

Update:

So Icalled customer service today and they said that is completely normal. I would of called yesterday but they were closed. Answer leaves me feeling uneasy but I hooked it back up and it’s working fine besides the spark at the bottom. The reason why it still bothers me is because of if you google you can find a few stories about electrical fires starting from insinkerators products but I guess that’s what insurance is for.

Thanks to everyone in the thread for helping me. I will rep everyone with my measily reps.