Burnt out plug / socket advice
Discussion
That was close! Switched the tumble dryer on last night, about 20 minutes later the house started stinking of fish(?) so I investigated and found this round the back of the dryer ....
The circuit breaker for the sockets on that floor has tripped and I've left it switched off.
On the basis I have done no poking around yet, my questions are:
I assume I will need to replace the socket. Is this something I can do or will I need an electrician?
The plug is a moulded one. Can I cut it off and attach a new plug to it?
And finally the dryer is just over a year old. Assuming the previous two points are addressed and it still works, is there any point getting in touch with the retailer? It's an Indesit one from AO, if that makes any difference.
Thanks in advance.
The circuit breaker for the sockets on that floor has tripped and I've left it switched off.
On the basis I have done no poking around yet, my questions are:
I assume I will need to replace the socket. Is this something I can do or will I need an electrician?
The plug is a moulded one. Can I cut it off and attach a new plug to it?
And finally the dryer is just over a year old. Assuming the previous two points are addressed and it still works, is there any point getting in touch with the retailer? It's an Indesit one from AO, if that makes any difference.
Thanks in advance.
The issue is what caused the overheating - a faulty plug on the dryer, a faulty socket or a loose connection to the socket. You can easily swap the socket for a new one but it's quite possible that the wiring in the wall has been damaged in which case you'll need to get an electrician in.
If the problem was in the dryer plug then it's going to be difficult to prove it so you might as well just cut the plug off & put a new one on.
If the problem was in the dryer plug then it's going to be difficult to prove it so you might as well just cut the plug off & put a new one on.
bigandclever said:
The plug is a moulded one. Can I cut it off and attach a new plug to it?
Yes. Cut a couple of inches past the plug.bigandclever said:
And finally the dryer is just over a year old. Assuming the previous two points are addressed and it still works, is there any point getting in touch with the retailer?
Nope. Looking t that, I think the problem may be that the plug hasn't been fully home, or has lifted out thanks to the cable being curved tight between the socket and the worktop (not a great description).I agree it looks like the plug may not have been seated properly due to the proximity of the work top.
Make sure you fit a decent quality double pole switched socket, not a cheap 'no brand'. I like Crabtree https://www.screwfix.com/p/crabtree-13a-2-gang-dou...
Same with the new plug, fit a decent one, MK are good. You'll need one with a 13amp fuse.
Make sure you fit a decent quality double pole switched socket, not a cheap 'no brand'. I like Crabtree https://www.screwfix.com/p/crabtree-13a-2-gang-dou...
Same with the new plug, fit a decent one, MK are good. You'll need one with a 13amp fuse.
C0ffin D0dger said:
You could always put the new socket on upside down to alleviate the bent flex issue.
Good idea.
Anyway, no need to buy expensive sockets or plugs.
Just pop down to your local wholesaler and get their trade range. Perfectly acceptable.
Shouldn't cost anymore than a few quid.
Without trying to hijack the OP's thread here, this issue worries me. Whilst our tumble dryer is brand new, it lives in the garage, which although is attached to the house it's quite far away from the living space. If the tumble dryer were to catch fire, I fear it would be too late by the time we would realise. I'm not sure we would even hear a smoke alarm if we placed one in the garage. Are there any solutions to this?
freakynessless said:
Without trying to hijack the OP's thread here, this issue worries me. Whilst our tumble dryer is brand new, it lives in the garage, which although is attached to the house it's quite far away from the living space. If the tumble dryer were to catch fire, I fear it would be too late by the time we would realise. I'm not sure we would even hear a smoke alarm if we placed one in the garage. Are there any solutions to this?
"interlink" your smoke alarms and pop one in next to the dryer, if that one is activated the rest or them will go off as well. I beleive there is wireless versions these days but may be pricey. Screwfix would be my first port of call.Alucidnation said:
C0ffin D0dger said:
You could always put the new socket on upside down to alleviate the bent flex issue.
Good idea.
The hole in the worktop suggests it's just in a utility room and not on show. Id certainly be looking at cutting a bigger/more accurate hole below the socket so this won't happen again.
It's interesting to note that it's the neutral pin that has overheated, rather than the live being heated by conduction from an under-rated fuse. I have found that the neutral terminal in after-fitment (not moulded on) plugs often loosens due to being rigidly attached to the neutral pin. The live pin is decoupled mechanically by the fuse cartridge so doesn't get 'wiggled' when the plug is inserted and removed. This being a moulded on plug it should not have screw terminals inside it.
samdale said:
The hole in the worktop suggests it's just in a utility room and not on show. Id certainly be looking at cutting a bigger/more accurate hole below the socket so this won't happen again.
bigandclever said:
about 20 minutes later the house started stinking of fish(?)
For anyone reading this who hasn’t experienced it, it’s well worth noting this comment and lodging it in your memory.Certain plastics often used in electrical fittings like plugs and sockets do exactly this when they get way too hot and start to melt or scorch: they give off a pungent aroma that smells exactly like gone-off fish.
So if you ever smell bad fish in your house, and it can’t be explained by fish scraps in your kitchen bin, don’t ignore it! Somewhere in your house, something electrical is overheating. You need to find it before a fire develops.
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff