An unnerving experience.

[JamesSpudd]

Dear Electrician,

I've just experienced a flash of blue light within the wall socket in the kitchen to my new flat.

I flicked the switch on my kettle before turning it on at the mains. As I switched the wall socket on, I saw a flash of electrical charge emit from the gaps between the switch and the cover. So basically, where my finger was. I didn't feel a thing and nothing shorted, there's no burning smells and everything appears to be fine (then again Bruce Willis didn't realise he was dead right up until the end of The Sixth Sense!!).

So anyway, my question is just.. do I have a problem? Should I have seen a flash of light when doing what I did?

Cheers for your help. Even if the question is perhaps quite a stupid one..

James.

 

[kkynaston]

Yes you would probably see a flash because the kettle was switched on and as you switched on the socket a large amount of current flowed.

Switch off on the appliances before switching them on\off at the wall
unless its an iron

 

[JamesSpudd]

Okay, thank you!

But surely the same amount of current flows through the conductor whether switched on at the wall or at the appliance?

 

[RF Lighting]

Nothing to worry about.

The spark is usually more visible when switching a large load off, but it is normal.

The same amount of current does flow in both switches, but it is best to use the switch on the appliance to turn it on and off.

 

[JamesSpudd]

Cheers man, I thought so.

Better make another cup of tea then!

 

[breezer]

as said , nothing to worry about, but you can see it even better with the lights out.

 

[ColJack]

how can I say this without worrying you?

whilst there is no imediate danger, if your sockets are particularly old ( like 20-30 years old, ) then it might be worth changing them anyway..

 

[Taylortwocities]

in the kitchen to my new flat.

I'd assumed it was brand spanking new, rather than new to him...