As an Electrician in Liverpool, we carry out a variety of electrical works. We can replace A BROKEN SOCKET, a broken switch, a broken cooker socket, a broken shower isolator, in fact if any electrical accessory in your home is broken then there is a good chance we can replace it.
A BROKEN SOCKET or electrical accessory is dangerous. When an electrical socket is broken it can give access to live parts such as electrical wires and electrical terminals that were not present before. The manufacturer never intended for their sockets and switches to continue to operate when damaged or broken and the continued reliability and safety of damaged electrical accessories is not guaranteed!
There are a number of ways in which a healthy electrical plug socket can become broken:
- Internal failure of the shutter mechanism
- Internal wear and tear
- Mechanical damage
- Heat Damage
- Rocker Switch Failure
- Loose Wiring at Electrical Terminals
We will look at each of the ways these plug socket accessories can go bad and see what can be done to prevent this from happening in the first place.
Back to top1) Internal Failure of the Shutter Mechanism
The shutter mechanism on a plug socket is intended to prevent the line and neutral pins on the socket from being opened before the earth pin has been adequately inserted. When the earth pin is inserted, the shutter mechanism operates and makes the line and neutral available for plug insertion. When combined with the design of the modern plug top the risk of electric shock is virtually eliminated when inserting a plug top into a plug socket.
Occasionally this mechanism can fail through wear and tear, abuse or debris entering the mechanism and jamming it. When the mechanism fails the socket will not normally accept a plug top without serious force thereby risking further damage to the socket.
Back to top2) Internal Wear and Tear
A plug socket has moving parts inside which have certain actions to perform. The moving parts are subject to wear and tear through continued use over extended periods of time which can result in poor electrical connections being made inside the plug socket between the rocker switch, the internal metalwork, and the plug top pins when a plug is inserted into the socket.
Not only can the plug socket suffer these issues but corrosion and debris build up is also a factor in plug socket failure. Metalwork is not impervious to rust and corrosion and over time a non-conductive layer of oxidation, rust or tarnishing can form on metal surfaces that were intended to be electrically conductive.
When this occurs, there is an increased resistance to passage of electrical current to the appliance through the plug socket connections and this leads to a build-up of heat. This heat build-up further damages the socket, increases resistance, and leads to a cycle of problems that end in the demise of the humble plug socket.
Back to top3) Mechanical Damage
We can see from the photograph at the beginning of this article that the electrical fused switch has suffered mechanical damage at some point. This has meant that live parts are now accessible to small fingers and as such, a lethal situation has developed!
Mechanical damage to plug sockets and other electrical accessories can occur through:
- Excessive tightening of the screws that hold the accessory in place
- Accidental Knocks and Bangs
- Forcing an accessory into a box that is too small to contain it
- Pre-existing cracks that develop and worsen
When this kind of damage occurs to a plug socket it is vital that an electrician replace the part without delay. Once a BROKEN SOCKET has occurred, it is not only dangerous but is at risk of further damage and increased danger to those living or frequenting the area in which it sits.
Back to top4) Heat Damage
Heat damage in electrical installations is commonly caused by loose wiring connections that overheat due to poor conductivity and high resistance. When heat damage occurs at the rear of a socket we will often not know until there is a fishy smell from the socket area.
Occasionally the front of the socket will crack which many people think is an accidental knock but in reality, is far more likely to be serious overheating out of sight in the rear of the plug socket. If you notice that the front of a socket is cracked then you must check the plug top that has been used in the socket for signs of damage also.
Back to top5) Rocker Switch Failure
The socket switches or ‘rocker switches’ are a common source of electrical failure. These switches have electrical connections that allow current to flow through the socket when the rocker switch is in the ‘on’ position and will cut the supply when turned ‘off’. These switches have moving metal parts inside which are susceptible to wear-and-tear, corrosion and high resistances forming. Evidence of overheating in this area can be things like:
- Cracking around the rocker switch area
- Poor performance from the socket
- Appliance working intermittently
- Discolouration around the rocker switch area
If you suspect that there are issues with overheating or potential failure it is vital that you contact your local electrician to ask them to check the socket, replace the part and check the wiring behind the plug socket for signs of overheating or any other damage.
Back to top6) Loose Wiring at Electrical Terminals
This may already have been covered in earlier parts of this article however, if loose wiring occurs at the rear of the socket then it is not necessarily a BROKEN SOCKET situation but more of a faulty wiring situation.
Loose wires will overheat and melt themselves and whatever they are poorly connected to. This will mean that the socket will be unusable following serious loose wiring situations and should be replaced.
We can see from the rear of this plug socket that the electrical terminals have been subject to overheating caused by loose wiring!
Back to top7) Is a Broken Socket Expensive to Replace?
A broken socket can normally be removed, wiring repairs carried out, re-installed and testing carried out following the repair within an hour. This is not one of the most expensive electrical jobs that you are likely to have carried out and typically is done for around £100 or slightly less. Be wary of very cheap prices as some elements of the jobs are likely to be missed out as speed becomes more important!
It is important for peace of mind and safety that electrical work is carried out professionally, skilfully and by an adequately insured and qualified electrician. You can be assured that these types of contractors will carry out any work to the letter of the wiring regulations and in accordance with any building regulations relevant to the work.
REMEMBER, if it has gone wrong once, have it done right NOW!
Back to top8) Just this one socket? Is it?
It is often sensible to have a check around the rest of your home before calling an electrician. If one plug socket has gone bad somehow then it’s prudent to inspect the remaining plug sockets around your home for further signs of damage, overheating and general problems.
In particular, those plug sockets where power hungry appliances are plugged in. These sockets will be more susceptible to damage as heavy electrical currents tend to exacerbate and loose connections or electrical problems.
What this means is that you are probably going to have to pull your washing machine out, dishwasher out, tumble dryer and possibly the oven. Sorry about that 😊 I didn’t say it would be easy, did I?
If you have any questions or need to chat then just get in touch through the website. Always happy to help out when we can.
