When electrics go wrong!!!

[Mike Johnson]

@Raptor0014 Surge protected, but not Muppet protected, the fish smell is quite distinctive with out the visual aids.

 

[Mike Johnson]

You guys have seen this before, but thought it was worth posting again, the smell in the room was a very distinctive fish smell, it comes from running two 3Kw fires off the same double socket, neither the MCB or RCD reacted to the overload, just got very smelly in the room.

 

[Raptor0014]

You guys have seen this before, but thought it was worth posting again, the smell in the room was a very distinctive fish smell, it comes from running two 3Kw fires off the same double socket, neither the MCB or RCD reacted to the overload, just got very smelly in the room.


View attachment 93240

That’s quite concerning that neither protective measure reacted to that.

Then again if nothing created a short then it’s a failure of the socket. Especially if it was connected to a 32a MCB as 26a it would be happy with. Guessing the materials in the socket weren’t rated to withstand 26a for that long.

 

[UKMeterman]

You guys have seen this before, but thought it was worth posting again, the smell in the room was a very distinctive fish smell, it comes from running two 3Kw fires off the same double socket, neither the MCB or RCD reacted to the overload, just got very smelly in the room.


View attachment 93240

Is that one of the ones with lever contacts, rather than screws?

 

[Mike Johnson]

Is that one of the ones with lever contacts, rather than screws?

Yes, it's French Legrand socket off a 20amp MCB.

 

[UKMeterman]

Me thinks I want to stick to crabtree...

 

[Mike Johnson]

The socket was Legrand, but the MCB and feeding RCD where both Hager and both tested out as per the specifications for them, I can only think that the fan and thermostat's for the heaters did not come on at the same time consistently, so an intermittent accumulative overload over a long period.

 

[pc1966]

The socket was Legrand, but the MCB and feeding RCD where both Hager and both tested out as per the specifications for them, I can only think that the fan and thermostat's for the heaters did not come on at the same time consistently, so an intermittent accumulative overload over a long period.

The back plate looks a bit corroded, maybe contacts were a bit tarnished as well?

In any case a 30% overload (26A on 20A rating) is not likely to trip a MCB but would definitely be considered unacceptable design practice. I guess the approval of double sockets was kind of based on the assumption you would not have two max loads on the same one...

 

[Mike Johnson]

The corrosion is quite normal on the ground floor of an old French farm house, no DPC or DPM so walls are always damp, if does not seem to bother the French,

Believe it or not they where not on each socket, but supplied off an extension lead onto lefthand outlet, oh can I say receptacle.

 

[pc1966]

Believe it or not they where not on each socket, but supplied off an extension lead onto lefthand outlet, oh can I say receptacle.

Well they can't really complain about the socket in that case being poorly made as it was clearly overloaded by 160%.

Now if only the French had a 13A fuse in the plug...