What is causing fuses to blow?

[JP_]

Just a crappy extension lead, or something else?
I know, wizard hat might be required.

About a week ago my son moaned that his Xbox One stopped working (3amp). I changed the cable and it worked again.

Today, he shouted and screamed, because while drying his hair (bit of a rocker now) the plug popped and sparked. Burning smell on plug, no sign of problems on the extension lead.

This little old extension lead was being used.



The other items are LED lights and a small LG TV.

This is the TV adaptor



This is the LED plug socket (looks like 0.8A)




Not had any other problems with electrics in the house, apart from one fuse that I replaced in the last year (I am trying to remember what appliance it was, or where it was, but cannot remember - it may have been the kettle in the kitchen, that is on a different circuit).

Is it pretty safe to assume that the solution is to get a better extension lead, and use that just for the TV, Xbox, LED lights, and plug the hairdryer direct into the wall socket? Or could it be something my non-electric brain has not considered? My electrician will be in in the next couple of months (once I've got some more work done on the bathroom) so could ask him to look, but not sure what he would actually see?

 

[Gasguru]

What plug popped...the extension lead or the hairdryer.
Open up the plug and post a pic...but it sounds like a loose connection.

 

[ericmark]

It takes a lot more that 13 amp to rupture a 13 amp fuse, in error I plugged in two 3 kW cup boilers into same extension and it never ruptured the fuse. So that was 25 amp for 3 minutes.

In most cases a direct short will trip the B32 MCB before it blows a fuse, so step one is unplug, and carefully inspect all low voltage leads, the extra low voltage after the wallwart or transformer unlikely to be a problem, looking at low voltage (230 volt).

If the plug will open then inspect, also if socket will open inspect, in the main an overloaded cable will melt ends before in the main flex, as the flex helps cool.

Unlikely simply too much plugged in, more likely either bad connection causing over heating or a short circuit the latter can result from bad connection and over heating.

3 amp fuses blowing yes many times, 13 amp very rare. Welding sets is about the only item I know which with no major fault has blown a 13 amp fuse.

 

[JP_]

Hairdryer.

Looks melted, and smells burnt

 

[JP_]

It takes a lot more that 13 amp to rupture a 13 amp fuse, in error I plugged in two 3 kW cup boilers into same extension and it never ruptured the fuse. So that was 25 amp for 3 minutes.

In most cases a direct short will trip the B32 MCB before it blows a fuse, so step one is unplug, and carefully inspect all low voltage leads, the extra low voltage after the wallwart or transformer unlikely to be a problem, looking at low voltage (230 volt).

If the plug will open then inspect, also if socket will open inspect, in the main an overloaded cable will melt ends before in the main flex, as the flex helps cool.

Unlikely simply too much plugged in, more likely either bad connection causing over heating or a short circuit the latter can result from bad connection and over heating.

3 amp fuses blowing yes many times, 13 amp very rare. Welding sets is about the only item I know which with no major fault has blown a 13 amp fuse.

So, more likely an issue with the socket? Or could the extension lead on the socket be the problem? Socket is only a couple of years old and all cables were replaced so should a;; be in tight.

I'll open the socket up to look when I get a moment to turn the power off.

 

[RandomGrinch]

Can you undo the cord grip and show us what's underneath?

 

[JP_]

Can you undo the cord grip and show us what's underneath?

 

[JP_]

closer ...

 

[RandomGrinch]

That to me, looks like fatigue damage to the cord, where it meets the grip.
Eventually wearing through the cord and going bang!
But that's just my opinion!

Nothing wrong with your extension!

Depending on the state of the rest of the cord, that section can be cut off and the plug rewired.

 

[JP_]

It is an old hairdryer. Not sure how old, but it could well be over 15 years ...

I'll buy my son a new hairdryer and a new extension lead, and double check the socket too when I get a moment.

 

[ericmark]

Fault is clear, cut cable shorter and re-inspect and if OK fit plug back on.

 

[RandomGrinch]

If the fuse blew, the sockets probably fine!

 

[oldbutnotdead]

As @ericmark , cord grip has been overtightened. Trim cable, reterminate.

 

[ericmark]

Even the cord grip shows signs of damage

cut back cable and remake connection.

 

[ericmark]

Other picture also shows damage

I would be happy you have found the problem. Show your son and educate him into checking electrical items with his eyes, that will help him for rest of his life, if I wanted instruction photos I could not take better than those.

P.S. full marks on camera use, they are very good photos.