Wired new socket, keeps cutting out

neilbusteraitken · 27 Jan 2014

Hi to all,

Im quite the beginner in household electrics, but I recently chopped into one of my cables and chock blocked a new electric cable off it to install a new socket, therefore providing two outputs from the block. I measured the voltage at the newly installed socket and this indicated 240v so I assumed the job was done. After plugging in a projector, I noticed it kept cutting out. I plugged in a surge protection extension and plugged a lamp in which operated correctly. I then plugged in a microwave in, which sent the surge protector mad. Whenever a large voltage is drawn it seems to spike then cut out.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

bernardgreen · 27 Jan 2014

neilbusteraitken said:
Whenever a large voltage is drawn it seems to spike then cut out

The first and obvious idea is that the joint you made is unable to carry the current for anything larger ( in wattage ) than a lamp.

This suggests the joint you made is resistive. This means it will get hot when you draw current through it.

Loose screws, wrong size terminal block, damaged strands in the cable. Many causes of resistive joints.

It could get hot enough to cause a fire.

Taylortwocities · 27 Jan 2014

We will hope that the

chock blocked

connection is in a proper enclosure, and is availabnle to access in the event of a fault.?

Is that what you did? Good.
It should be easy to find where you have caused the problem then..

neilbusteraitken · 27 Jan 2014

Oh I figured just using a standard terminal block would suffice. I think I'll look into that first. I wrapped the joint in plenty of electrical tape without an enclosure box, I take it this is very bad practice? I'll be honest, I just seen an electrical cable under the floorboards in a convenient position, cut it and created the two outputs without any regards whether or not it is a lighting circuit :/. Oh well, we learn through trial and error I suppose

bernardgreen · 27 Jan 2014

neilbusteraitken said:
. Oh well, we learn through trial and error I suppose

Not everyone learns through trial and error. Some just die.

AndyPRK · 27 Jan 2014

what type and size cable have you used ?

This is not the way to connect to a cable. (choc block and tape)

A round junction box is a much better method.

e.g

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JUNCTION-...al_Electrical_Fittings_MJ&hash=item4d13f6b655

Taylortwocities · 27 Jan 2014

And the cable must be clipped, if you use one of those boxes,, otherwise there's nothing to stop the wires being yanked out.

And you can't just hide the box away.

But first of all you MUST identify what that cable is that you spliced into. Suppose its the wire to your room thermostat??, maybe that's why its going crazy….

sparkybird · 27 Jan 2014

bernardgreen said:
neilbusteraitken said:

. Oh well, we learn through trial and error I suppose

Click to expand...

Not everyone learns through trial and error. Some just die.

Yes, but at least then they never make the same mistake again

Taylortwocities · 27 Jan 2014

There are old DIYers
and
There are bold DIYers
but
There are no old, bold DIYers

Trazor · 27 Jan 2014

Another wind up thread methinks.

AndyPRK · 27 Jan 2014

Oh. Is it ban?

Taylortwocities · 27 Jan 2014

I wondered about that too. I'm sort of missing him, a bit like toothache, really

neilbusteraitken · 2 Feb 2014

So I changed the choc block for a round junction block as posted in the link previous, this has still not worked. (what a nightmare they are to fit btw). So it seems the cable I cut into was a lighting circuit for downstairs. Would this affect the performance of my newly installed plug Socket?

AndyPRK · 2 Feb 2014

Yes it would.

It would mean either

A) you can't draw high loads off it.

Or

B) if a cable going to a switch, not work at all.

Taylortwocities · 2 Feb 2014

neilbusteraitken said:
So I changed the choc block for a round junction block as posted in the link previous, this has still not worked. (what a nightmare they are to fit btw). So it seems the cable I cut into was a lighting circuit for downstairs. Would this affect the performance of my newly installed plug Socket?

You aren't supposed to hide any sort of screwed connection away, under the floor (I guess that's what you've done?). It has to be accessible.

But that's not the real problem. You obviously have no idea what the cable is you've spliced into. It could (for instance) be the wire to a light switch. Even if it were the lighting feed cable, it would not have enough power available to power a socket.
So stop doing what you are doing, and get an electrician in to sort out your mess, before you do you, or your loved ones, some damage.

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Wired new socket, keeps cutting out

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