wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current!

[Hans in ZA]

Due to a sticky mechanism on base of kettle contact a short or arcing must have occurred that tripped the wall socket plug it was plugged into. I subsequently reset the 15a circuit breaker covering the plug in question and cleaned the contacts on the kettle. Unfortunately I now cannot get power back to the 220v 15amp double wall socket that also connects further to the overhead stove extractor wall socket. I have noted reference to GFI's but regrettably I am unfamiliar with this safety item - The 3 other plugs and the stove and fridge plugs work fine but not the plug where the kettle was plugged into!
The circuit breakers were all reset and I cannot see any other device that needs resetting! is there possibly some safety device up in the ceiling above the plug fitting where the wires are fed down that I might find a device in a junction or connector box?
Any help will be appreciated
Many thanks

 

[malcolmsanford]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

America by any chance???

 

[stansmith]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

there could be a fused connection unit above the ceiling but there shouldnt be attall I have heard of this being done before in conservatories and in kitchens when fitted new which is completely wrong this being one of the reasons. Are you sure the socket outlet isnt working? try plugging in a bedside lamp int the outlet to prove it, im assuming you havent got a martindale/plug in tester,
Because if your plugging the kettle cack in and isnt working the fusse in the plug mightve blown, try with a lamp or toaster just to prove the outlet

 

[Hans in ZA]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

Thanks Guys - actually Cape Town South Africa - ZA- The double plug has no fuse and have tested it with a test light as well as a avo meter - No current watsoeva - The kettle is currently operating from another set of plugs on the other side of kitchen - I can only assume that plug is on a different circuit to the one where hob extractor wall plug and the dead dbl wall plug are fed from. I realize electrical standards would be different in UK to the local requirements but the query was posted with the hope that there was a ez solution to the problem due to something Im unaware of been overlooked
Thanks in advance once more - much appreciated.
-

 

[malcolmsanford]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

There is a chap on here called Marvo who is top notch and is from your neck of the woods, and I'm sure he would know more about SA installations than all of us combined, I'm sure if he picks this up he will advise you mate

 

[Hans in ZA]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

Thx Malcolm - I guess it be ok then if I post a heading Seeking Marvo!

 

[malcolmsanford]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

Thx Malcolm - I guess it be ok then if I post a heading Seeking Marvo!

I don't think as a new member you can PM someone, I'll PM Marvo and tell him to give you a shout

 

[Hans in ZA]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

Thx Malcolm Much appreciated-
I have further information that you might be able to translate into the cause/solution
If I take one of those pocket light testers and plug into the left or right live & neutral it glows. If at the same time I put the pos and neg testers from a meter in the RHS the light goes off on the Lhs. So altho nothing visibly broken and wires untouched securely connected to switches either side, this definetly seems to be an abnormality ...but could it be the root of all evil here?
What I also find confusing is that altho all the main current is on the power is insufficient to light up a std 60watt globe . On the test meter the ac reading is about 20 volts - Got me stumped !
But as mentioned will get a nother plug and replace to see what that will bring about
If the above description of event adds some critical info you that will allow you Powa guys a better insight to the problem, please add your comment ../.
Much appreciated
Hans

 

[Knobhead]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

If one of our established members were to PM Marvo then things can be resolved.

 

[Knobhead]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

Forget it. just sent a message on your behalf to Marvo with a link to here

 

[Des 56]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

I dont know if I am not understanding his problem correctly guys but, :dizzy2:

Is this a switched socket ?
If so, it may simply be what hasn't been mentioned, the sockets switch contacts have disintergrated or caked up with a very high resistance and just requires a new front

Have you replaced the outlet?

 

[Hans in ZA]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

Problem solved - Thank you all for input!

Been a layman with a mere basic understanding of domestic electrical wiring I guess I can be excused for believing the problem was more involved than it turned out to be . The red herring was the bad connection between the kettle and its base This springloaded contact did not fully return, at the point of replacing the kettle and I surmize the bad contact caused sufficient arcing to in effect blow out what turned out to be the culprit and that was a insecure neutral return from the mains to the oven/hob extractor wall plug above and inline to the double wall socket below.
After replacing the double wall socket used for kitchen appliances incl the kettle the next step was to open and replace the single socket hidden deep backward of a overhead flap cupboard above the extractor fan- So this plug has soley been used for the power supply for the extractor and built in lighting..

Having read about special circuit breakers that are specialized for Kitchen use and GFL's I believed I had a bigger issue than a simple insecure connection.Purely due to the electrical bang created in the vicinity of the double plug when replacing the kettle and the fact that I could not restore power bar a trickle on the double socket made me focus my attention there alone and at the source - trip switch on Main board.....iBUT indeed the problem occurred at the weakest point in the chain and that was where the two neutral wires were secured to the single plug -the first stop over enroute to the double plug .
A black carbon blow out was evident and the only theory is that when the installation was done some 10years ago the plug is in such a confined area where access to the plug is one handed at best, the fitter obviously had difficulty securing wat was two very short lengths of neutral cable into the single plug rear connection.
I proceeded to secure both wires into a insulated copper lug that provided a crucial extra inch of play thereby allowing a solid input and securing of the neutrals-into the rear of socket
Once all connected -
Wala
All sorted so there was no issues with the double plug watsoevea but rhe outer reaches of that line .
So moral of the story is dont overlook the obvious and straight forward possibility even tho it symtoms could point to a more involved problem!

Nice having the opportunity to engage with everybody that took time out to focus on my dilemma!
All sorted - Powa to all the sparkies!
Brilliant website forum and community!

 

[Marvo]

Re: wall socket tripped CB on main board due to faulty kettle- Cannot restore current

Hi Hans, sorry I wasn't around to help a fellow Capetonian out in his hour of need but it looks like the other forum members were willing and able as ever. Just got back from Malawi this afternoon, the entire half of the city was without power so my afternoon has been an uphill battle to say the least.

I'm glad you found the problem with your installation wiring at the socket and those kettles with the contacts in the base are always problems, I'd recommend you go with the old fashioned type that are cheaper but much more reliable.

Thanks for the follow up post letting us know what your problem was and if you have any more problems just shout.

Cheers
Marv