I came to make a brew this morning, and the kettle didn't work. Checking the fuse, it's blown - one end is blackened and melted a little of the plastic plug casing. It smells a bit.
Explaining to an non-electrical engineer - i.e. for an idiot, why would it have blown and should i be more concerned?
I know it's there to protect against surges. That's about it.
Blown element causing a short.
Shorted out element in the kettle. Bin it.
A new fuse and the kettle is fine.
Not a Swan kettle is it?
Water ingress - dried out by the time you replaced the fuse?
I think the kettle did it.
There was a 'what new kettle' thread on here recently. Full service this place you know. There's probably a 'what new kettle' thread on mumsnet too but you'll need a stiff drink first.
I can feel a trip to Argos coming on.
Wasn't a 5A fuse was it? 😉
Kettles generally 13A.
A fuse provides overcurrent and short circuit protection.
Usually the element sh*ts its innards out over time, could have been water in somewhere it shouldn't, may have been ghosts...
I think the kettle did it.
There was a ‘what new kettle’ thread on here recently. Full service this place you know. There’s probably a ‘what new kettle’ thread on mumsnet too but you’ll need a stiff drink first.
I can feel a trip to Argos coming on.
What would Grayson Perry do?
Water ingress that's dried out causing a short. happens a lot on cordless base units for kettles. Get a new one.
Kettle on with no water in it?
Brexit.
Too many raisins.
Why not e-mail the CEO of the kettle making company?
My educated guess. A loose connection in the plug. Could be a wire loose, the pins are very slightly undersize, the socket is worn out, or the spring clamp holding the fuse isnt gripping tight enough.Also, if the fuse is Chinese, who knows what size it actually is? It could be anything if it came from a company who have little quality control.
Any of those cause localised heating and a chance of the fuse going. I've attended a few washing machines with burnt out plugs recently.