Whats the blue stuff?

[Danny1]

Hi guys, just found this forum and have something i hope you can help me with? My elec oven stopped working yesterday, was gonna check the fuse first so unplugged it from the socket, however on doing so the top prong of the plug has blue suff over it??? have no idea what it is, possible damp? so i havnt done anything else with it.

any ideas what this is? and should i change the plug for a new one or would just changing the fuse to see be ok and safe ofc?

thanks for any help.

 

[Danny1]

could it be a dead smurf

lol, could be i guess

 

[telectrix]

Well, i know the electrics in the house are pretty old, none of the other plugs in the house show any signs of this though.

What sort of price would i be looking at for a rewire of a 2bed terrace in the northwest england ?? it is something we have been looking at getting done anyway.

from what you say, it seems that the problem is confined to 1 socket outlet, on the earth terminal. replacing the plug and socket would probably cure this. as for rewiring, it would need a site visit to determine what action is required ( full or partial rewire, CU change, and or extra sockets etc.). and any price would be dependent on the amount of sockets, etc. that you require. whatever work you have done, the earthing and bonding arrangements will have to be checked and brought up to standard. i think any forum member who is close to you would be happy to come out and give you a quote.

 

[Knobhead]

The green gunk I’ve seen many times with damp walls. It will be copper sulphide. Leaching chemicals from the bricks / blocks react with the copper but not to a great extent when PVC covered. The earth is a different kettle of fish, because it’s only sleeved. Damp air, copper and the sulphides can react freely.

The best bet is to chop out one box distance in whichever direction the cable comes in and remake off the socket. Replace the box while you’re at it that will be shot!

 

[telectrix]

it sounded more like the problem was with the plug/socket connection rather than in the back of the socket. could be a condensation problem.

 

[benji]

how big is the oven kw

 

[tc50]

if cables where drawn through conduits to outlet it may be fairy liquid used as lubricant in past as ive seen this before and yes it does make my hands feel soft lol

 

[Rockingit]

I did an emergency call-out to a property a couple of weeks ago where just this level of corrosion had been developing for years in a very damp wall - first thing the owners knew about it was when flames started coming out of the socket via the hole that finally worked it's way from the back to the front of the socket - got a lovely piccy! The mounting box was almost dust it was that corroded and wet.

When I did a return visit to replace it, transpired the ring was broken in two places, I found the cooker wired as a spur-spur-spur off a socket and floating earths virtually everywhere. 3036's and no RCD, so the bloke had been living there for ten years and had no idea. It took me a day to just reconfigure and test what was there rather than make massive changes (ccoker apart) and hey presto - he lives to see another day.

If in doubt - get it checked. It might just save your life.