Socket caught on fire - urgent help/advice needed from tenant

[Robin Leitch]

Hi all

I have come on here in hope for some advice if possible. Yesterday my wife was at home with my three children when she smelt a strong burning coming from the kitchen, when investigating she noticed the tumble dryer plug (which is plugged in the wall socket) had caught fire, as it transpires and thankfully, she pulled the plug out in time. As the smoke seemed to still be coming from the socket the fire brigade where called out in fear of it being a fire within the wall. The fireman said it was only a few more seconds away from fully igniting.

Subsequently he seemed pretty outraged with our landlord over other aspects of the property seeming to lack fire safety regulations, and asked for his telephone number to make direct contact. Later in the evening our landlord arrived and let it slip that the wiring had been installed over 13 years ago and had not been touched or checked since. He promised to return today with an electrician to replace the socket and make sure it was all safe to continue to use.

Whilst i was at work he attended the property with friend who apparently did the original wiring, his friend suggested that it was a fuse issue and the sockets and wires where absolutely perfect still? When my wife asked for that to be written down and for paperwork to show these findings he refused to leave her anything and simple said the plug is proof enough to claim from the tumble dryer company for compensation of a new tumble dryer (as ours is no longer working) I have added some pics for you in hope that it may be able to suggest this is a tumble dryer and plug issue and not electrical. as I am slightly worried, firstly that we have had a proper check carried (it could have been anybody for all we know) checking our electrics and secondly to ask if it is a legal requirement to leave paperwork with tenants to confirm the work as been carried out by a qualified electrician? also on a side note, yesterday the fireman arranged to book in a free fire safety inspection and offered us free smoke alarms as ours are not working, they had arranged to do this on Friday however my landlord has advised us today he has cancelled this appointment and will fit the alarms himself? Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

 

[westward10]

If the socket was cracked before this incident that could have been the cause but I have to say if it was a moulded plug on the tumble drier it shows all the signs of the fuse overheating.

 

[Robin Leitch]

Thank you, the socket has been cracked for a few years however it is a moulded plug also....

 

[KEV 1 N]

It's as if the fuse in the plug has been slack in its holder, causing it to get hot.
What make was the tumble dryer?

 

[Octopus]

Rather oddly there is no requirement for landlords to undertake mandatory electrical safety checks in the uk other than Scotland.

Decent and responsible landlords do.

13 year old wiring should not be a problem. I tested a 55 year old house yesterday and on the whole the electrics were OK.

If your landlord does get the installation tested, it should take a few hours to do it properly.

Certificates for like for like accessory changes are not required.

 

[westward10]

If you still have the plug you will probably see the fuse across the middle of it to match the worst burn damage on the socket.

 

[DJ Ovengloves]

13 years isn’t particularly old for wiring either.

It looks to me as if the heat has been applied at the front of the socket - I.e from the plug itself.

 

[The Ghost]

There are a number of tumble dryers that have been recalled because of safety issues, perhaps you could check on electicalsafetyfirst.org to see if your tumble dryer is one of these. They are problematic it would seem generally.
You should have the electrical installation checked every five years in the case of rented property or it is recommended to do so.

Rather oddly there is no requirement for landlords to undertake mandatory electrical safety checks in the uk

So you should have a copy of those Electrical Installation Certificates?
It is unusual for a socket to be so damaged in one incident. Was the socket showing signs of burning before the event?

 

[Robin Leitch]

Thanks everyone, before it went we were only ever able to use one of the sockets which was the left hand one as the other socket didnt work at all, it was a white knight tumble dryer and i will of course be looking to take this up further with them as like i say the fireman said it was a very very close call. Should i have been left some sort of blue slip?

 

[static zap]

If you still have the plug you will probably see the fuse across the middle of it to match the worst burn damage on the socket.

You can see the rectangular outline of the "RED" fuse holder -in smoke!

 

[MJPD29]

i don't know about in england but in northern ireland it is legal requirement to have an EICR carried out and a certificate produced before any property can be rented so whenever you moved in there should be a certificate from then. i only know the because i test rented homes a lot of the time

 

[Robin Leitch]

yes there where signs prior which i had discussed with my landlord and he was aware the socket needed to be looked at but advised it was still safe to use

 

[westward10]

I am surprised you had ignition within the socket. You would have required quite a temperature for the plastics to break down and release gas containing molecules and even then they would require a means of ignition which I doubt the fuse would have provided. This could have been a combination of a poor quality plug and lose arcing conductors within the socket.

 

[westward10]

yes there where signs prior which i had discussed with my landlord and he was aware the socket needed to be looked at but advised it was still safe to use

That cracked socket was never safe for continued use.

 

[Des 56]

Has the tumble dryer plug been getting warm previous to the incident
Ditto the socket outlet
Did the TD plug have clean copper pins or were they discoloured through previous warming which is usual in such cases
The crack could cause the connection between the plug and socket to be less tight than usual

 

[Robin Leitch]

Wow thank you all for so much advice it is extremely appreciated!

 

[Robin Leitch]

from what i can gather, it had been getting warm hence why my landlord had been made aware of the socket, yesterday my wife smelt almost a fishy burning smell and then bright blue flash which caused her to pull the plug out

 

[bigspark17]

Sounds like an appliance fault.. out of interest was there an rcd protecting the socket outlet? Pic of the consumer unit would be good to see

 

[KEV 1 N]

I've seen this often with cheap quality sockets and tumble dryers but usually the burning is around the plug pin holes.....I've not seen one where shape of the fuse holder is burnt onto the socket.
I think it's been a defective moulded plug in this instance.

 

[westward10]

Sounds like an appliance fault.. out of interest was there an rcd protecting the socket outlet? Pic of the consumer unit would be good to see

It's probably shrouded in smoke.

 

[123]

i don't know about in england but in northern ireland it is legal requirement to have an EICR carried out and a certificate produced before any property can be rented so whenever you moved in there should be a certificate from then. i only know the because i test rented homes a lot of the time

Since when has that been a legal requirement in Northern Ireland?

 

[Robin Leitch]

Thanks everyone, you have made me feel more comfortable this evening with the fact that it seems to be a faulty appliance as opposed to a bigger issue with wiring, again really appreciated. I have added some more images of the plug and casing etc..

 

[KEV 1 N]

Yes....definatly plug is the cause, If the dryer was using too much current it would simply blow the fuse. I dare say a new plug could be refitted, but if it's not that old and under guarantee then contact the manufacturer.

 

[Robin Leitch]

Thank you !!

 

[westward10]

Little known fact that not all 13A moulded plugs are rated at 13A and I can't see the rating on that one. Check a few on your computers, tv and stuff as some are marked at less than 13A.

 

[marconi]

White Knight safety notice and helpline:

White Knight Tumble Dryer Fire Risk. Important safety notice - White goods help and advice for UK - https://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/white-knight-tumble-dryer-fire-risk-important-safety-notice/

White Knight - https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/brands/white-knight/

 

[The Ghost]

Condenser Tumble Dryers - https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/2012/10/condenser-tumble-dryers/

 

[The Ghost]

Mhmm great minds think alike eh?

 

[Robin Leitch]

Thanks guys for all your help with this!

 

[Toneyz]

Thank you, the socket has been cracked for a few years however it is a moulded plug also....

Did you report this to the landlord ?.

 

[marconi]

Robin, was there ever a cover over the fuse and contacts? It would look like the red oblong in this image (but might be another colour):

http://www.plugwiring.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/moulded-plug.jpg

Examining the photo below and the socket it does not look like there ever was.

[/QUOTE]

 

[Wilko]

Little known fact that not all 13A moulded plugs are rated at 13A and I can't see the rating on that one. Check a few on your computers, tv and stuff as some are marked at less than 13A.

Every day I learn something new here - thanks Westie.
I rummaged through the junk pile important historical artefacts in the shed and I had one to hand ... another thing to confirm when looking at appliances.

 

[westward10]

Not sure whether that rating applies to just the attached cord or plug and cord though.

 

[Squid]

Who supplied the appliance?

 

[Wilko]

In my case, I just had the plug. Long since removed from something for some reason that is now lost in time ...

 

[DPG]

OP, just to clarify, did you say that for some time the socket was cracked and that only one of the outlets in the double socket was working?

 

[Pete999]

Looks like the OP has lost interest, the best advice I can give will be to get a competent DI or better still an Electrician in, to survey the problem, give the OP his/her opinion and take it from there, all this procrastination does nobody any good, least of all the OP, get a Sparky in to take a look Mate.

 

[Pete999]

Hi all

I have come on here in hope for some advice if possible. Yesterday my wife was at home with my three children when she smelt a strong burning coming from the kitchen, when investigating she noticed the tumble dryer plug (which is plugged in the wall socket) had caught fire, as it transpires and thankfully, she pulled the plug out in time. As the smoke seemed to still be coming from the socket the fire brigade where called out in fear of it being a fire within the wall. The fireman said it was only a few more seconds away from fully igniting.

Subsequently he seemed pretty outraged with our landlord over other aspects of the property seeming to lack fire safety regulations, and asked for his telephone number to make direct contact. Later in the evening our landlord arrived and let it slip that the wiring had been installed over 13 years ago and had not been touched or checked since. He promised to return today with an electrician to replace the socket and make sure it was all safe to continue to use.

Whilst i was at work he attended the property with friend who apparently did the original wiring, his friend suggested that it was a fuse issue and the sockets and wires where absolutely perfect still? When my wife asked for that to be written down and for paperwork to show these findings he refused to leave her anything and simple said the plug is proof enough to claim from the tumble dryer company for compensation of a new tumble dryer (as ours is no longer working) I have added some pics for you in hope that it may be able to suggest this is a tumble dryer and plug issue and not electrical. as I am slightly worried, firstly that we have had a proper check carried (it could have been anybody for all we know) checking our electrics and secondly to ask if it is a legal requirement to leave paperwork with tenants to confirm the work as been carried out by a qualified electrician? also on a side note, yesterday the fireman arranged to book in a free fire safety inspection and offered us free smoke alarms as ours are not working, they had arranged to do this on Friday however my landlord has advised us today he has cancelled this appointment and will fit the alarms himself? Thanks in advance for any help and advice.

Where abouts in the UK are you situated ? close to Northampton ?

 

[static zap]

...... thanks Westie.
I rummaged through the junk pile important historical artefacts ....
View attachment 39202

Great minds think a like (fsd)..
Found one of mine 5A ASA certified SP60 ...(2004)

... with an IEC C13 labeled 10A ,for consistency !

Cheers for Pic -not all have red fuse carriers!
....Thanks Westie

 

[marconi]

For the sheer interest and enjoyment I have been studying the photos the OP has provided to think on what electrical effects caused what the OP described in #1. KEV1N mentioned in #19 the absence of burning around the L and N pins and that the oblong shape of the fuse holder was burnt onto the faceplate of the socket. And DJ Obengloves in #7 observes the heat has been applied from the underside of the plug.

I think there are some further observations which can be take from the phot of the plug in #31.

 

[marconi]

Continued...

I think there are some further observations which can be take from the photoof the plug in #31 and a comparison of it with the 'new' plug image.

Although there is the image of the oblong outline of the perimeter of the fuseholder, there is no shading one might expect for the peep hole if the removable fuse carrier was in place - I think this is significant hence my question to the OP.

We also don't see any overheating of the internal parts or surfaces of the double socket. All heating effects were localised and external and close to the fuse assembly.

If one looks carefully at the underside of the plug I think one can see some tracking from the load end of the fuse to the earth pin and also towards the earthed socket securing screw on the left.

There are signs of arc spatter on the surface of the socket near the neutral pin entry.

The supply end of the fuse carrier was hottest because of the browner scorch mark.

The OP does not state it but I infer because he has not that in the lead up to this event the dryer was working normally and had been on earlier occasions.

In sum without over labouring things too much further, I reckon the fuse was not securely in place nor protected against ingress of contaminents. As a result the connections between the fuse end caps and the fuse clips were prone to becoming dirty. We suspect too that the clips may not have been that tight on the end caps or the fuse not fully home in them. Over time localised Ohmic heating led to oxidation and then arcing. The heat these generated caused the plastic around the metal of the fuseholder to decompose into carbon products which are conductive.

There is a strong electric field between the fuse carrier live parts and the earth pin of the plug and also the earthed socket securing lug. Over time this field attracted hot ionised material which became deposited as two tracks - I think you can see one between the load end of the fuse and the earth pin along the perimeter of the fuse assembly (and also along the crack on the faceplate of the socket under the earth pin entry going north-west/south-east. Very quickly the conditions were created for dry arcing and the gap between the underneath of the plug and the surface of the socket acted like an arc chute, containing and channeling arcing between the live parts and the earth pin and earthed screw hole.

This I think is what the OP's wife had to deal with. I also think their home does not have RCD protection and I would not be surprised to hear it has rewireable fuses.

After a google search I turned up this piece from the US:

The Basics of Electrical Overheating - http://www.ecmweb.com/ops-amp-maintenance/basics-electrical-overheating



All, I am suggesting then is the OP may have experienced the effects of dry arcing on the underside of the plug. An arc of course if highly conductive and large currents can flow through them, remembering that the peak to peak voltage swing is +350V to -350V.

 

[marconi]

Only if you are really interested in flashover across insulated surfaces:

Engineering Dielectrics - https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=c9qgPOK7eNwC&pg=PA272&lpg=PA272&dq=dry+arcing+across+insulation&source=bl&ots=TopC6C8ORH&sig=qatB7FdbY82HI2iU0v-178FXaP0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwitsYbg7bHXAhWRpKQKHcCuBPwQ6AEIWjAJ#v=onepage&q=dry%20arcing%20across%20insulation&f=false

 

[jace999]

Yes....definatly plug is the cause, If the dryer was using too much current it would simply blow the fuse. I dare say a new plug could be refitted, but if it's not that old and under guarantee then contact the manufacturer.

Yes....definatly plug is the cause, If the dryer was using too much current it would simply blow the fuse. I dare say a new plug could be refitted, but if it's not that old and under guarantee then contact the manufacturer.

Never presume the fuse is okay.There werre a lot of recalls over fake fuses in domestic appliances.