Wiring Q- kettle ov...
 

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[Closed] Wiring Q- kettle overlaoding socket.

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Any elec gurus about.
The socket in my kitchen started smoking yesterday, on further inspection the insulation on the live wire was burning.

It is a double socket spur onto the ring main with 2.5 mm2 cable. The spur is max 1-2 metres long.

Im at a loss to explain this, could it be that the kettle is knackered and drawing too much poewr? The toaster is on the same socket , which in retrospect is a bit daft but at the time of the incident only the kettle was on.

I am aware of part P regs, so of course this is a [cough] existing installation!


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 11:37 am
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Get a new kettle! Quickly!!

Spurs are not the best idea for heavy usage appliances.


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 11:53 am
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duff connection causing arcing / high resistance?


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 11:53 am
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I'd suspect a slightly loose connection in the socket.


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 11:57 am
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Is it one of those no-cable kettles that drops onto the connection?


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 12:02 pm
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Loose connection or terminal screw clamping onto insulation rather than copper resulting in arcing.

If that does not solve the problem get someone in to run a Z_e test on that ring and spur.


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 12:07 pm
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cheers guys. I suspect it is the duff connection.

It is a wife-free kettle - would this have an impact?


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 1:16 pm
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[i]wife-free kettle[/i]

It is awful when you have to make your own cuppa...


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 1:26 pm
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lol wwaswas - you know what i mean, besides Im not married!


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 1:31 pm
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lol wwaswas - you know what i mean (wire free - aka cable free)


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 1:32 pm
 5lab
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yeah just sounds like the socket might have a slight short somewhere. I'd bung a new one on and see how it does


 
Posted : 24/01/2011 1:58 pm