UK Melted Plug and Socket cause

[zerozero7]

Hi all,
Washing machine plug and socket melted around Neutral pin. Whilst removing socket faceplate, noticed one brown wire was not in the terminal. May have come out of the terminal when pulling the socket forward or may have been out all the time.
Is this lose or disconnected live cable the 'definate' cause of the overheating on the neutral pin?
Thanks, Gary

 

[littlespark]

If the loose live wire was causing a problem, the heat damage would be showing around that terminal.

I think this has been caused be the neutral socket not having a good grip on the plug pins.
It can happen with older sockets, or ones that are plugged/unplugged constantly.
Can also happen if the sockets have had those plastic “child safety” shields fitted

 

[brianmoooore]

It's more likely indicative that the neutral terminal wasn't tight either. There appears to be slight thermal damage around the neutral terminal.

 

[littlespark]

There’s quite a bit of melting behind the live socket hole as well, meaning the live didn’t have a good grip either.

 

[Julie.]

That looks like the contacts between the plug and socket were not making proper contact.

It could be an undersized plug (cheap China incorrect size)

It could be oversized socket - poor quality socket (BG) or having an oversized plug inserted previously -- typically the ridiculous "child safety" things that reduce the safety, but the public uses.

It could be corroded contacts - usually the plug as the brass contacts get wet and go green, especially with stuff near washing machines, in garages etc.

Although the incoming connection may have been loose that actually wasn't the cause here - it does show that you probably need to get the installation checked properly though.

 

[telectrix]

cheap socket, limp wristed tightening of terminal screw/s.

 

[telectrix]

That looks like the contacts between the plug and socket were not making proper contact.

It could be an undersized plug (cheap China incorrect size)

It could be oversized socket - poor quality socket (BG) or having an oversized plug inserted previously -- typically the ridiculous "child safety" things that reduce the safety, but the public uses.

It could be corroded contacts - usually the plug as the brass contacts get wet and go green, especially with stuff near washing machines, in garages etc.

Although the incoming connection may have been loose that actually wasn't the cause here - it does show that you probably need to get the installation checked properly though.

why knock BG .I fitted loads, never any problems.

 

[Julie.]

why knock BG .I fitted loads, never any problems.

So have I

But it isn't the best quality, and I probably wouldn't use one where it was subject to large loads such as a washing machine/dryer or where it would be plugged in/out a lot.

I have them in my own bedrooms and living rooms etc - to be fair mostly the usb versions, but within the kitchen and utility where there will be kettles and fryers plugged and unplugged and for the dishwasher and washing machine, I have used more premium examples.

 

[telectrix]

we got kettle (3kW) and micro (1kW) in a double BG with usb. been in 6 years, no problems. in garage, washer, tumbler, 3 freezers all in 2 x BG doubles, extension lead for freezers.

 

[Petej999]

cheap socket, limp wristed tightening of terminal screw/s.

What Tel said

 

[Mark42]

Hi all,
Washing machine plug and socket melted around Neutral pin. Whilst removing socket faceplate, noticed one brown wire was not in the terminal. May have come out of the terminal when pulling the socket forward or may have been out all the time.
Is this lose or disconnected live cable the 'definate' cause of the overheating on the neutral pin?
Thanks, Gary

Hi Gary

Had the brown (Live) wire not been present you wouldn't have got much washing done ?.

The fact that it came out when withdrawing the front plate definitely indicates it wasn't tightened properly in the first place, and you have a cr@p installation.

So long as the wires aren't burned back beyond trimming distance this is no big deal. Just buy a decent quality new socket and replace it. Ditto a decent plug for the flex.

It might be worth gradually going round all your other sockets to check terminal tightness as well (switch off at the board first!). There's a bit of craft in getting the torque right - it should be firm, but not torqued down like the wheel nuts on a 44 ton truck! All that does is to strip the threads and/or cut through the copper cable.

Cheers and good luck, Mark.

 

[zerozero7]

Thanks all

Hi Gary

Had the brown (Live) wire not been present you wouldn't have got much washing done ?.

The fact that it came out when withdrawing the front plate definitely indicates it wasn't tightened properly in the first place, and you have a cr@p installation.

So long as the wires aren't burned back beyond trimming distance this is no big deal. Just buy a decent quality new socket and replace it. Ditto a decent plug for the flex.

It might be worth gradually going round all your other sockets to check terminal tightness as well (switch off at the board first!). There's a bit of craft in getting the torque right - it should be firm, but not torqued down like the wheel nuts on a 44 ton truck! All that does is to strip the threads and/or cut through the copper cable.

Cheers and good luck, Mark.

Hi Gary

Had the brown (Live) wire not been present you wouldn't have got much washing done ?.

The fact that it came out when withdrawing the front plate definitely indicates it wasn't tightened properly in the first place, and you have a cr@p installation.

So long as the wires aren't burned back beyond trimming distance this is no big deal. Just buy a decent quality new socket and replace it. Ditto a decent plug for the flex.

It might be worth gradually going round all your other sockets to check terminal tightness as well (switch off at the board first!). There's a bit of craft in getting the torque right - it should be firm, but not torqued down like the wheel nuts on a 44 ton truck! All that does is to strip the threads and/or cut through the copper cable.

Cheers and good luck, Mark.

Thanks Mark...
"Had the brown (Live) wire not been present you wouldn't have got much wasting done ?"
It must have been using the other Brown ?
Not sure where the second lose brown looped to but the as far as I know all the other sockets were working so it was probably still in the terminal until I pulled the faceplate away although it was obviously poorly gripped.
Gary

 

[brianmoooore]

It's quite probably a ring final circuit (32A MCB?), so is intended to be fed power from both cables. On a well loaded circuit, this can cause damage to the fixed wiring, all the way back to the fusebox.

 

[zerozero7]

Thanks all for great prompt replies.
Only 1 year old good quality (?) BG socket with good quality (?) factory fitted washing machine plug. Permanently plugged in so socket has little use and located in a dry kitchen cupboard adjacent.
Seems to make sense that if it was a poor contact in the terminal there would be more heat damage in that location but as the damage seem to be around the socket and plugs prong, I am guessing it was a poor connection in there.
Got a very nervous homeowner who thinks her house is going to burn down and my ""probably a lose connection"" just isn't good enough.
Arranging for Spark who done the kitchen install to come back and give it the once over to reassure her.
Gary

 

[zerozero7]

It's quite probably a ring final circuit (32A MCB?), so is intended to be fed power from both cables. On a well loaded circuit, this can cause damage to the fixed wiring, all the way back to the fusebox.

That was my original thinking, lose or missing live overloading neutral?