2 Gang Power Sockets Keep Breaking

[JohnW2]

Switching a high power appliance such as a toaster or kettle ON and OFF using the switch on the socket can wear out the contacts in that switch leading to early failure of the switch.

True, but I doubt very much whether that would often happen in practice, since both toasters and kettles 'switch themselves off', so that the socket switch is very rarely going to be used to switch 'on load'. Similarly with most other kitchen gadgets (mixers, blenders, etc.) which will nearly always be switched off with their own functional switches before the socket switched is operated.

Kind Regards, John

 

[ban-all-sheds]

From my copy of BS 1363:1984

17.1.3 The switch shall make and break a current
of 17 A in a substantially non-inductive a.c. circuit
at 275 V ten times in succession at intervals of 30 s.

After the test, the socket-outlet shall be in a
serviceable condition.


18.1.3 In switched socket-outlets the switch shall
make and break a current of 13 A at 250V 15 000
times (30 000 movements) in a substantially
non-inductive a.c. circuit at a rate of six complete
cycles per minute at regular intervals. The periods
during which the switch is “on” and “off” shall be
approximately equal. The means used for operating
the switch shall be such as to move the actuating
member at a speed of approximately 300 mm/s both
in making and breaking the circuit and shall be so
positioned that the normal action of the mechanism
is not interfered with in any way.

At the end of the test, the switch shall be capable of
making and breaking the rated current at rated
voltage and the voltage drop across each switched
pole shall not exceed 75 mV measured in accordance
with 13.4.2.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

True, but I doubt very much whether that would often happen in practice, since both toasters and kettles 'switch themselves off', so that the socket switch is very rarely going to be used to switch 'on load'.

My toaster cannot be turned on with its functional switches unless powered up.

It can be turned off at the socket though, when turned on at the unit.