A cracked plug socket which I use a lot for fan-heater.

[JohnD]

this will happen with a high current passing through the fuse in the plug. the other components in the plug and socket can carry the current with ease, unless there is a poor connection, whose signs you will see when you open it.h

 

[FrodoOne]

You wrote

I had a new fuse-box unit installed a year ago and I use this plug socket every night for hours in the winter. Admittedly the flex and plug can get hot. As you can see the plug socket has cracked. It is about 45 years old.
View attachment 260667

Does the flex near the plug get "hot" or does all of the flex get similarly "hot"?

The device concerned is drawing only about 8.3 A, which may make the Plug/Socket "warm" but should not make them "hot".
If the heating of the flex is only in the vicinity of the plug, then the heat is coming from the plug - which may have a loose connection or corroded Line or Neutral pin.
If the "heating" of the flex is the same over its length, the flex may be "under-rated" and should be replaced with a "heavier" flex.

In any case, both the Plug/Socket and Flex should never get "hot" while carrying 8.3 A - only "warm".

 

[markyd1]

Its 45 years old, Just replace it

 

[Jeff543]

The story gets worse. An electrician replaced the cracked socket with a new one last week and tonight i could smell something weird from the fan heater/plug (which was hot) . The new socket has cracked as shown;

 

[333rocky333]

Was the heater plug replaced as well.
Also looks like a Cheaper budget brand socket.
Looks like he reused the old screws maybe the box being 45 years old, has old BA thread.

 

[Jeff543]

this will happen with a high current passing through the fuse in the plug. the other components in the plug and socket can carry the current with ease, unless there is a poor connection, whose signs you will see when you open it.h

A poor connection in the socket?
What are the signs of that? Thanks.

 

[SUNRAY]

I had a new fuse-box unit installed a year ago and I use this plug socket every night for hours in the winter. Admittedly the flex and plug can get hot. As you can see the plug socket has cracked. It is about 45 years old.

Should the fuse-box have cut the fuse out before it got to this stage of socket-cracking? I couldn't smell any electrical wire-overheating. View attachment 260667

I see no apparent signs of overheating, What I do see is physical damage such as being knocked (vacuum cleaner?? Baby walker?? etc) or a cable being tripped over. The damage is not recent, I assume the heater is left plugged in.

 

[Jeff543]

I see no apparent signs of overheating, What I do see is physical damage such as being knocked (vacuum cleaner?? Baby walker?? etc) or a cable being tripped over. The damage is not recent, I assume the heater is left plugged in.

The socket is brand new. No there was no physical damage or brute force causing a crack? It's heat related.

 

[SUNRAY]

the flex is not likely to get hot, unless it has been bent excessively and repeatedly, breaking the metal fibres inside. I have only seen that in electric irons which are constantly moving in use.

Smoothing irons, hair dryers and electric drills are the main culprets in my book.

 

[SUNRAY]

View attachment 262763 The story gets worse. An electrician replaced the cracked socket with a new one last week and tonight i could smell something weird from the fan heater/plug (which was hot) . The new socket has cracked as shown;

That doesn't look new.
The crack and screw holes are already full of black dirt.

 

[sparkwright]

That doesn't look new.
The crack and screw holes are already full of black dirt.

I think the screw holes look dirty because the old screws have been reused, presumably circular screw caps are intended to go in those screw holes.

 

[sparkwright]

I suppose the logical next step is to check plug of the heater, inside and out. And check for loose/burnt connections.

Presumably you don't use the heater with the flex coiled up?

 

[Jeff543]

That doesn't look new.
The crack and screw holes are already full of black dirt.

I'm telling you that the electrician put it in last week.

 

[Jeff543]

Buy Belkin Cube 1 Socket Surge Plug Protector | Extension leads and cable reels | Argos would something like that solve it (if i keep on using such fan heaters that is?)

 

[mcprinter]

Is the Socket discoloured/burnt on the Left Live Pin Hole? To the Left of the 'V' Symbol. Might be a shadow or reflection on the Pic.
What does the Fan Heater Plug look like? Any pitting, marks or discolouration on the Live Pin?