Is the outlet responsible for this burning?

[fade2gray]

Is this burning likely due to high resistance contact between the neutral pin of the plug top and the pin receiver in the socket outlet?



The appliance is a 15+ year old tumble drier that vents out the front loading door, and the plug top is of the moulded type and cannot be disassembled.

 

[Marvo]

If you encounter a burned socket you need to replace all the plugs that get used in that socket as well as the socket itself. Likewise if you have a damaged plug you should also replace the sockets you've used it in as well as the plug.

 

[uksparks]

Looking at it, the socket even before the damage could o with replacing as its probably only single pole, and it's not switched, and looking at it, I may be wrong but it doesn't look like there's any shutters on the bottom holes, if this is the case, it may be worth looking at your other outlets and updating them.

 

[Lucien Nunes]

probably only single pole, and it's not switched

Oops! How can it have a single-pole switch when it doesn't have a switch?
Every 13A socket ever made has shutters, they are probably jammed open after melting.

Agree with Marvo, change plug and socket and any others that have been involved and overheated, and probably all will be well. It is unlikely to indicate any other problem specifically.

 

[fade2gray]

Thanks for the replies.

The socket is a dedicated, under worktop outlet with a 20A DPS above for the tumble dryer. I believe it is shuttered, but the shutter can't return to the closed position due to the burning (you can just make it out in the lower edge of the live pin receiver). The most alarming thing for me about this was the lack of any noticeable burning smell.

My social housing landlord had the place rewired 4 years ago, and since then the dryer hadn't been unplugged until yesterday (plenty of length on the flex to pull the dryer forward for floor cleaning without causing any strain), and the only reason it was unplugged is because we've been given a condenser type dryer.

The thing is, I'd like to provide the landlord with a convincing argument that the socket was most likely the cause, and not the dryer or it's plug, to reduce any chance of them footing me with the bill.

 

[uksparks]

Oops! How can it have a single-pole switch when it doesn't have a switch?
Every 13A socket ever made has shutters, they are probably jammed open after melting.

Agree with Marvo, change plug and socket and any others that have been involved and overheated, and probably all will be well. It is unlikely to indicate any other problem specifically.

What a spanner I am, you are quite right there's no switch so it can't even be switched in one pole! Doh I did wonder if they were jammed, I was not aware that every socket had shutters, I know they should but wasn't sure if very old ones didn't, I stand corrected.

 

[Darkwood]

The reason is harder to pin down it could equally been an issue with the plug as it could with the connections in the back of the socket or loose inlet clamps, as the heat damage has now migrated between both plug and socket it will e hard to reliably say which came first the chicken or egg!

 

[fade2gray]

Well, the dryer had been plugged into the previous socket outlet (before rewire) for a good 10 years without any signs of overheating.

 

[Darkwood]

Then that would implicate the socket at fault but as I said its hard to prove and for the sake of a few quid in materials to replace its really not worth the aggro' ... you can just say you had an Electrician in because of the burning smell and he says the socket was faulty, and you waited till you discussed with landlord before paying for the work to be done. Usually a verbal suggestion is enough depending o your landlord.

 

[fade2gray]

Thanks dw, I'll approach the landlord and see how it goes.

 

[Marvo]

TBH I'd just replace the burned plug on the tumble dryer and call the landlord to replace the socket and just deny all knowledge of what happened to cause it. Bottom line is it's usually just wear and tear that causes sockets to burn their pin connections so as long as it wasn't abused it should be for the landlords account