Socket blowing/tripping help!

[DoBBY]

Hello all,

Can anybody help.....

Couple of weeks ago I changed a few fittings for a mate. One ofwhich was a blown socket, the facia had burn marks on the outlet. I just replaced it with a new double socket and everything seemed fine. Today my mate rang and told me that when plugging in an extention lead today it blew again.

Its a garage circuit with 2 double sockets inside, the end socket is the problem socket. It has a fridge freezer plugged into it constantly. When I changed it over I put the fridge back onto the socket and checked the other outlet with a radio.....everything worked fine and it didnt blow....

My presumtion is it may be an overload,depending what he has been plugging in to the socket but I am not sure! It could also be that the fridge freezer is faulty....or a short circuit. Thing is I haven't the relevant testing equipment to diagnose the fault....If its an overload o.k, I can maybe change the circuit breaker so it meets the demand....

Has anybody got any ideas?

I'm part qualified got my part 1 & 2 and 17th but haven't had much fault finding exp...

Any help would be muchly appreciated...thanks

 

[Dannyg83]

if the breaker tripped when he put his etension lead in , i would check the extension lead is not faulty. Did the breaker reset when the extension lead was removed ?

 

[DoBBY]

I'm not sure it will be the extention lead....I'm presuming an overload.....Just wanted to know from my description what experienced fault finders would assume the likely fault was....?

 

[acvc]

Hi Dobby

When you say 'it blew again', do you mean the socket arced/sparked/melted and smoked, or the MCB operated, or the RCD operated? Or any combination of the above?

 

[Dannyg83]

Wot did he have on the end of his extension lead tp presume it was overloaded ?

 

[claire_r]

What size breaker is it and what else is on the circuit as it very rare a fridge freezer would cause an overload? What was tripping the rcd or circuit breaker? Might be worth taking the socket off again and just checking there are no nicks in the cable causing a short. Try plugging a kettle in the socket and see what happens? Its probably the extension cable.

 

[DoBBY]

Hi all,

I had a quick look today and....Yes it was a faulty extension lead....couldnt find any problems with the circuits on inspection and it definately wasn't an overload. So I took the extention and plugged it into the downstairs ring which tripped the CB. Just to make sure I plugged into the upstairs ring with the same outcome....

Thankyou very much for all the replies....very much appreciated....and bang on!

 

[Dannyg83]

Cheers easy !

 

[claire_r]

them pesky extension cables!!! glad you found it dobby

 

[ICE]

Get an electrician to look at it

 

[DoBBY]

Get an electrician to look at it

Was that a slight dig....

No need the "electricians mate" sorted the problem!

 

[ICE]

Well, come on , its child's play...

 

[hasel5]

did not know you could could get tester with a built in radio who makes these as the sound really good

 

[DoBBY]

did not know you could could get tester with a built in radio who makes these as the sound really good

haha.......