Exposed live wire in cooker wall socket

[Johnx14]

So I fitted a new metal faceplate switch on the wall socket for my cooker. All went well. As I'm also tiling I took it off a few days later, and noted some of the live wire insulation rubbed off presumably by me screwing the screws in when assembling. I have read of this before, first time hrs happened to me.

I have as an immediate fix put some red electrical tape over the bare wire. Is this enough to do? Should I replace the live wire so its undamaged,if so any particular thickness?

I did see all the sockets had earth cable from face to backbox.

What happens say I didn't note it and the live cable touches the screw holder plate- does it shock you on the faceplate or trip the fuse at the cu?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

It should cause the protective device to trip.
However if the short is severe enough, it can also melt some of the CPC.
So when you reset the trip, the face plate would be live but the CPC is damaged and the protective device won’t trip.

 

[telectrix]

if you have some bare copper showing on a "live" cable ( and that means both the L and the N, fit some heatshrink of the appropriate colour over it, 2 layers if necessary.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Don't use adhesive tape of any colour, it comes unstuck after a while.
Sleeving is what you need.

PS We dont use red any more, its brown now.
Red tape is just used by plumbers to mark a cold pipe, or is it the hot one?....
it's so confusing this plumbing stuff..

 

[Wilko]

Hi John - if you can post up a pic and we might be better placed to advise on next steps. I'm a bit concerned for you as it's now got a metal front, so please make sure it's off at the Consmer Unit before taking it off the wall.

 

[l4urence]

Sleeving for sure. Needs sorting as you state the metal faceplate is a concern (even in plastic, I would use sleeving and more care with the screws).

 

[Johnx14]

Thanks for the replies . I shall get some heatshrink. I never thought of the tape unsticking.

 

[Silly Sausage]

You said that some of the insulation 'rubbed off'.
They're not old rubber insulated cables where the rubber has degraded so much that it disintegrates when you touch it?

 

[sparksburnout]

Well, being as how you are in Eire or Ireland or wherever I would just keep my head down and hope to God that the electrical police don't come round tomorrow.

 

[Sintra]

It’s alright he’s in the North lol.

 

[sparksburnout]

It’s alright he’s in the North lol.

That's alright then, out of the clutches of that Tusk nutter

 

[Johnx14]

Wires are 19 years old, not in a bad state. Pretty satisfied I done it screwing the faceplate back on. Have ordered a heatshrink kit so with cover it better that i have with tape.

You said that some of the insulation 'rubbed off'.
They're not old rubber insulated cables where the rubber has degraded so much that it disintegrates when you touch it?

 

[Johnx14]

I'm ready to repel boarders!

 

[sparksburnout]

I'm ready to repel boarders!

Good man, keep the b****s out.