Today I had a routine socket change. The present one was tripping the RCD. The customer had used one of those double conversion sockets that utilise a single back box. I noticed that the right hand switch on the socket would not turn off.
I chased out and fitted a proper double socket. All tests were fine and the switch worked as it should. I then plugged the customers plugs back in switched them back on and thought I'd switch them off again just in case they still tripped the RCD for some bizarre reason. But, the right hand switch would not switch off.
I then changed the socket again as my new socket now had a faulty switch on it. The new switch was fine, until I plugged the customers socket back in and switched it on. As soon as the socket was energised by this particular plug the switch would become faulty and not allow itself to be switched off (just on the side that had this particular plug in it), even when the plug was removed.
I then got one of the sockets I had previously used and loosened the screws holding the socket together. The switch started working again (i.e allowing itself to be switched off), I tightened the screws back up and it was fine. However, the same thing happened everytime I plugged this particular plug in. I then chopped off the plug (it was an extension lead with 8 sockets on it and 2 USB slots), fitted a new one and everything worked fine.
Why would a plug do this this???
I chased out and fitted a proper double socket. All tests were fine and the switch worked as it should. I then plugged the customers plugs back in switched them back on and thought I'd switch them off again just in case they still tripped the RCD for some bizarre reason. But, the right hand switch would not switch off.
I then changed the socket again as my new socket now had a faulty switch on it. The new switch was fine, until I plugged the customers socket back in and switched it on. As soon as the socket was energised by this particular plug the switch would become faulty and not allow itself to be switched off (just on the side that had this particular plug in it), even when the plug was removed.
I then got one of the sockets I had previously used and loosened the screws holding the socket together. The switch started working again (i.e allowing itself to be switched off), I tightened the screws back up and it was fine. However, the same thing happened everytime I plugged this particular plug in. I then chopped off the plug (it was an extension lead with 8 sockets on it and 2 USB slots), fitted a new one and everything worked fine.
Why would a plug do this this???
![[ElectriciansForums.net] What on earth was causing this?](https://electricians.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/data/attachments/33/33142-88f3283358f9b30d1fb1ca1b4f3eee7c.jpg "[ElectriciansForums.net] What on earth was causing this?")
