outdoorreceptaclewiring
As of about two days ago (admittedly a heavy storm) if I connect any device to my outdoor outlet, it'll trip not only that socket but also the only other outlet attached to this circuit. The main breaker doesn't flip, but the only way I can reset the outdoor outlet is to also reset the other, indoor, outlet.
I am thinking the outdoor socket is hosed, but was curious if anyone had any other ideas…
Sounds like the GFCI receptacle got wet (or perhaps a downstream receptacle if there is one), and something is shorted out, tripping the GFCI.
If you have any Christmas lights still plugged into the outlet, then something may have shorted out in the lights, making the GFCI trip. Try unplugging everything and see if the GFCI will reset. If it does, then dry out and inspect the lights carefully to look for problems -- don't plug them into a non-GFCI outlet since there is clearly an electrical problem and use care around them until the problem is found.
If it's not a problem with anything plugged in, then new GFCI's are cheap enough that I'd just try replacing the GFCI (fixing any water intrusion problems first, if there's water in the box, then figure out why and stop it from getting in there). If the bad GFCI eventually dries out and starts working again, I personally wouldn't trust it again.
This is likely not a serious fire hazard, but could be an electrical hazard (since something is apparently shorted out), so to be safe you could turn off the breaker that powers that outlet.
If the outlet got wet because the lights were plugged into the outlet while the outlet cover was open, you can purchase an outdoor outlet box that allows a cord to be plugged in even when the outlet cover is closed:
(this is just a representative sample, there are other styles and manufacturers of similar products)
You wrapped those burnt wires in electrical tape and turned it back on? Please turn off that breaker and get an electrician in. And check that your smoke detectors have working batteries. At the very least all the wire in that box probably needs replacing.
The outlet likely caught fire from a loose connection. The other outlets affected are probably downstream from this one - power for them flows through that outlet, which is why it has 2 sets of wires. It is possible for this to happen without tripping the breaker. The loose connection acts more like a heating element, using lots of power but not enough to trip the breaker. An AFCI breaker might have tripped, but even then might not.
The wiring needs to be checked properly and any damaged sections replaced.
Best Answer
If rain is getting into the box from outside, you could put a new rain resistant cover on the outlet which might solve the problem.
If there is a leak into the box that you cannot immediately stop, then you can remove the receptacle and wire the circuit through with wire nuts. This will prevent this one spot from tripping a GFCI breaker or receptacle. Wire nut connections are much more resistant to moisture than a receptacle.
I had to do this for a receptacle on an outside wall which was getting wet from a roof leak into the wall and tripping an essential circuit protected by a GFCI breaker. I used regular Scotchlok (red size) wire nuts, filled them with antioxidant paste, and turned the nuts upward so they would shed water. I attached a blank cover plate over the box.