A cracked plug socket which I use a lot for fan-heater.

[Jeff543]

I had a new fuse-box unit installed a year ago and I use this plug socket every night for hours in the winter. Admittedly the flex and plug can get hot. As you can see the plug socket has cracked. It is about 45 years old.

Should the fuse-box have cut the fuse out before it got to this stage of socket-cracking? I couldn't smell any electrical wire-overheating.

 

[BS3036]

Should the fuse-box have cut the fuse out before it got to this stage of socket-cracking?

No reason why it should - things get hot because the resistance goes up from contact tarnishing.

 

[chivers67]

What exactly are you plugging into it Power/load wise? It can take quite a bit of over current before a fuse or MCB to blow or trip - depends how much it actually is.

 

[Wayners]

Need to get that replaced. Poor condition.

 

[Jeff543]

What exactly are you plugging into it Power/load wise? It can take quite a bit of over current before a fuse or MCB to blow or trip - depends how much it actually is.

Just a fan-heater straight in, no double adapters;

 

[blup]

No, socket plates can become significantly hot and not trip the circuit breaker. The internal connections are likely loose and need checking, use a professional electrician if you are not confident in doing this yourself. The face plate should be replaced because it is cracked and therefore potentially dangerous.

Blup

 

[Colin Brenton]

Easy enough to DIY a replacement. Something like this would be a big improvement. Switch all the house power at the fuse box before starting, and check that it is dead before you start.

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mk-logic-plus-13a-1-gang-dp-switched-plug-socket-white/14790

Good luck but post back if you hit any questions.

 

[Jeff543]

What exactly are you plugging into it Power/load wise? It can take quite a bit of over current before a fuse or MCB to blow or trip - depends how much it actually is.

Here is the label on back;

 

[Jackrae]

Look more like mechanical damage due to brute force rather than anything electrical. Some plastics degrade with age and become less intolerant to being abused. As others have said - get it replaced with a reputable switched unit (ie not the cheapest you can find).

 

[Jeff543]

Look more like mechanical damage due to brute force rather than anything electrical. Some plastics degrade with age and become less intolerant to being abused. As others have said - get it replaced with a reputable switched unit (ie not the cheapest you can find).

No one here uses brute force to plug in or out though.

 

[chivers67]

Check the connections in the plug to make sure they are ok as well as replacing the cracked socket.

 

[JohnD]

No one here uses brute force to plug in or out though.

it might have been knocked at some time over the last 45 years.

 

[sparkwright]

Sockets cracked around the live and neutral holes of a socket do indicate overheating.

Is the plug of the heater heat damaged/damaged?

The cracking on the socket seems to be only around the earth hole, which MAY suggest it's not heat damage, but the way the plug is being inserted or removed from the socket.

Just a thought.

 

[Jeff543]

Sockets cracked around the live and neutral holes of a socket do indicate overheating.

Is the plug of the heater heat damaged/damaged?

The cracking on the socket seems to be only around the earth hole, which MAY suggest it's not heat damage, but the way the plug is being inserted or removed from the socket.

Just a thought.

There is nothing wrong with the fan-heater plug no.

 

[sparkwright]

Do you carefully insert and remove the plug? Could the plug have been yanked out in a slightly upward direction? Could the plug have been pushed in without much care?