Help please with appliance and ext lead

[Deleted member 267285]

Good evening good people,

I’m after some advice, my tumble dryer plug top and extension lead socket outlet seem to be browning. Weirdly though it’s the face of extension lead and the top part of plug, doesn’t seem to be the pin side of plug? Photos attached

 

[ericmark]

A fuse works by the wire inside melting when the current goes over the rating, so all fuses run hot, which is why all plugs should be in free air for cooling. Also some of the heat is transmitted down the line pin, and transferred to the socket and from socket into the wall, as a result most high power items say you should not use an extension lead.

 

[JohnD]

Double sockets are especially prone to overheating when a large load is connected to both sides.

 

[JohnW2]

Double sockets are especially prone to overheating when a large load is connected to both sides.

It seems that they are. However, we are talking here about an 'extension lead', which has two or more outlets (only two can be seen in the cropped photo) - albeit presumably theoretically 'limited' to 13A total load across all the outlets.

Kind Regards, John

 

[Deleted member 267285]

which has two or more outlets (only two can be seen in the cropped photo) - albeit presumably theoretically 'limited' to 13A total load across all the outlets.

Kind Regards, John

It has 2 outlets, but only the one is used for tumble dryer only. The other isn’t used.Would it be better to have a single use one or pay for another socket outlet? I’d probably be able to spur off existing double socket, but not sure my wife wants me to as I’m not an electrician.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

as a result most high power items say you should not use an extension lead.

Would I be better using a socket outlet direct then? Might have to rearrange the garage slightly or pay for a spur.

 

[ericmark]

Size and colour matters, big black plug will get rid of more heat.

 

[bernardgreen]

Fitting a longer lead to the appliance would allow the use of the wall socket without needing an extension lead.

Cheap ( or expensive but badly designed ) plugs should be avoided.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Fitting a longer lead to the appliance would allow the use of the wall socket without needing an extension lead.

So either cut off existing moulded plug and extend there, or renew from appliance? Would I just need to get the correct rating cable then and use a standard plug?

 

[blup]

The burning is over the neutral connection so probably a loose wire in the plug causing the overheating. Either way chop off and fit a new plug and replace the extension lead and socket. An electrician can always check the circuit if you suspect that to be the cause.

Screwfix do robust rubber plugs and sockets which you can wire up yourself with new 1.5 mm flex

Blup

 

[bernardgreen]

So either cut off existing moulded plug and extend there, or renew from appliance?

I personally would extend from the terminals in the appliance. ( that might affect a warranty )

 

[Deleted member 267285]

This might sound like a stupid question, but could I use a back box, 1 gang socket outlet and some twin and Earth or flex and make my own sort of extension cable that way? Or better to do as @blup suggested?

 

[ericmark]

Using a metal socket and stuffing gland yes you can make a good quality extension lead,

I would not use twin and earth as really hard to get into a plug.

and good quality plug

however I have used these

in the past with no problems, as long as in free air there should be no problem.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

I was thinking more of mounting it on the wall, existing socket is white plastic faceplate and backbox, any harm using this? Also just found this: https://www.toolstation.com/1-gang-extension-lead/p37079 thoughts? Free air is plenty as it’s a garage.

 

[Deleted member 267285]

Also is there a way to test if the neutral is loose internally? Eg a resistance check?