What could protect against kettle fault?

GrumpyShedMonster · 15 Oct 2009

I've been reading the stuff on circuit breakers and residual current devices.

A friend (not me honest!) recently put some new sockets in kitchen. The kettle was left switched on with no water. No steam to switch it off - eventually the plug/socket got so hot it melted, before someone noticed. They had a lucky escape.

My question: Is there some way of doing the wiring of those sockets that could have prevented this happening.

The Dentist · 15 Oct 2009

The fault here lies with the kettle, or more the fact that it had no water in it

The circuits were only doing what they are designed for, eg to carry the 13 or so amps to the 3kw kettle, and boil the water, it will happily run at higher currents all day long if it was required to do so, so no type of device in the circuit would have prevented this

I guess a cleverly designed kettle would have a thermal overload device built in, thus sensing the fact that the element is getting a lot hotter than it would normally do if the water was there to absorb the heat energy, not sure if they have them or not?

stargazer · 15 Oct 2009

GrumpyShedMonster said:
My question: Is there some way of doing the wiring of those sockets that could have prevented this happening.

The wiring?
No.
Circuit protection?
It is possible that over-heating of the element may eventually break down the insulation around it sufficiently to cause a leakage of current to earth. This may trip an RCD, but I would not rely on that.
The answer?
Buy a kettle with inbuilt boil-dry shut-off protection!
And tell your friend to be more careful in future

GrumpyShedMonster · 15 Oct 2009

My cheapskate 'friend'

has since replaced his melted plastic kitchen sockets with the more expensive stainless steel variety.

JohnD · 15 Oct 2009

In the UK, a kettle should have a 13A fuse in the plug (not a nail).

If the plug and socket are correctly wired, they should be able to carry a 13A load indefinitely. Eventually the dry kettle would be damaged, and if it caused a short-circuit, the 13A cartridge fuse would blow.

However, if it was badly wired (you say the socket was recently fitted

), and had a loose termination, it might have overheated even at 13A. Or if there was an adaptor or a double socket, and another high-power appliance such as a tumble drier was drawing another 13A at the same time from the same socket, it would eventually overheat.

Plastic or metal-faced sockets would make no difference in these conditions.

The unique British fused plug can provide excellent protection to faulty appliances and is a wonderful invention.

flameport · 15 Oct 2009

Electric kettles have had overheat cutouts as standard for decades. If the kettle stayed powered for a long period with no water in it, there was something seriously wrong with it.

aptsys · 15 Oct 2009

GrumpyShedMonster said:
My cheapskate 'friend' has since replaced his melted plastic kitchen sockets with the more expensive stainless steel variety.

Doesn't mean it is better quality though.

ban-all-sheds · 15 Oct 2009

Or more competently installed....

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What could protect against kettle fault?

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