Hello,

I plugged two fan heaters into a triple wall socket and something's now blown - but I'm not sure what. I've changed the 13a fuse in the triple wall socket, and flipped the trip switch back to 'on' on my main fuse board - but the socket still doesn’t work. Any ideas what it could be?

Oh, my dad changed it from a single socket to a triple one, but he did a proper job - channelling out the wall and everything.

I've tested ta charger and it works fine in another socket, but not this triple wall socket.

A

A Thomas, November 2009

Peccavi, note I said LIVE conductor and not LINE conductor - LIVE including neutral but not PEN.

Adam, November 2009

Or perhaps a break in a neutral conductor

Peccavi, November 2009

A phone charger really isn't the best thing to check a socket with - best to use a Martindale type plug in tester, or at the very least a table lamp.

Personally I would start by switching the power off and having a look at the back of the socket for things like evidence of overheating, condition of connections, etc.

Is the socket on a radial or ring final circuit?
What is the rating of the breaker/fuse at the consumer unit?
Do the other sockets on the same circuit work?

To answer your question, there is a break in one of the live conductors somewhere.

Adam, November 2009

I dont think you answered my question. I've removed all plugs, changed the fuse on the triple wall socket and checked the fuseboard.

I then tested the triple wall socket with a phone charger (which works for sure) and it doesnt work in the triple wall socket. What could be wrong with the triple wall socket?

A, November 2009

Add up the total Wattage you are using (you can get this from the rating plate on the devices) and divide by the voltage - Europe = 230V

This gives you the current - if the Wattage is 3kW or above you will be taking more than 13A

3000 divided by 230 = 13.04A

It has nothing to do with the Triple socket - just the amount of current you are trying to pull down the circuit. Plugs will melt - breakers will trip etc etc. If they don't behave this way cables will get hot and there's a risk of fire.

Get your dad back - or an electrician

Peccavi, November 2009