Can You Believe This?

[securespark]

Each pair in the wrong terminal:

And, yes, they'd wired the live to the earth terminal...

 

[Taylortwocities]

Who were the "they"?

Did they wonder why it didn't work?

 

[bernardgreen]

Did they wonder why it didn't work?

Maybe it did With Live and Neutral reversed else where and no RCD the socket would "work"

 

[rjm2k]

Lovely, did the faceplate screws tingle when touched?

 

[securespark]

The householder rang with a hall socket that didn't work when he plugged the Flymo in. Then he plugged his kettle in to test it.

It was a Class I appliance...

 

[Taylortwocities]

He survived then.
Obviously it had been like that for quite a while.

 

[JohnW2]

I guess it must be an optical illusion, because it looked to me as if there was probably a third G/Y-sleeved conductor going to the terminal. If so, it would presumably have been going to the backbox, in which case there would presumably have been a bit of a bang when the faceplate screws were put in!

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

No, optical illusion it is, as there was no link.

Frightening stuff...just how wrong can people get it??

 

[Spark123]

Even less understandable with the old colours! At least you can understand with the new colours why someone would think brown is an earthy colour.

 

[JohnW2]

No, optical illusion it is, as there was no link.

I'm not sure I understand. If you're saying that there was a third G/Y-sleeved conductor, where does it go if not to the backbox?

Frightening stuff...just how wrong can people get it??

It is quite hard to imagine how much more wrong they could have got it. I suppose the only 'worse' thing (which probably would have been fairly imemdiately apparent!) would have been to terminate wires of different colours in each of the terminals!

What is a little surprising is that someone who got it so wrong should have known about, let alone used, G/Y sleeving!

Kind Regards, John

 

[Iggifer]

What is a little surprising is that someone who got it so wrong should have known about, let alone used, G/Y sleeving!

Im 99.9999% sure they didn't, and they replaced the faceplate and the sleeving was already there

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Can You Believe This?

I can believe almost anything.

 

[sparkwright]

Each pair in the wrong terminal:

And, yes, they'd wired the live to the earth terminal...

My gut reaction is that a DIYer has replaced the socket for one which is a different make, and simply copied the layout of the wires, rather than observing the markings on the terminals.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

There you go.

Don't ever suggest though that people shouldn't even replace sockets unless they genuinely understand what they are doing - you'll get nothing but abuse, no matter that you are 100% correct.

 

[skotl]

There you go.

Don't ever suggest though that people shouldn't even replace sockets unless they genuinely understand what they are doing - you'll get nothing but abuse, no matter that you are 100% correct.

Hmmm.... that's stretching it a little, BAS.

How about (preferably without 18 quote tags) when the totally clueless poster comes on here with pics, and then are gently guided as to where the wires should, in fact, be placed?
Someone with zero experience in electrics, who comes on here with a clear question (ideally with pictures) and is given clear advice on how to address their problem, who then heeds that advice and implements the change... Surely that's the whole point of the diynot forum?

Sometimes ("I want to add an extension and I can't be arsed paying an electrician") they need to be lectured until either they understand what they're doing, or (more likely) comprehend that the need to call the professionals in.
Other times, they just need helpful and courteous advice that will help them achieve the best and safest result.