Fish smell from an unused plug socket

[desstriker]

Last night I noticed a strong odour of fish in my bedroom. This morning I traced it to an unused plug socket behind a a bookcase. I switched off the power and undid the box and all seems well inside but the smell is strong.
Could it be the wiring in the wall that is causing this and is this something I should be dealing with right now?

Thanks in advance for any advice given

 

[bernardgreen]

You have a dangerous situation, turn of the power to that socket and get an electrician in to fault find and repair.

The "fish" smell is from burning bakelite in the socket or a nearby junction box that is out of sight in the wall or unde the floor boards.

The burning is from an overheated terminal in the socket or junction box. Most often caused by the screw becoming loose and no longer pressing on the wire(s) in the terminal.

If the socket is not being used then the current causing the heating is going to an appliance elsewhere on the same circuit.

This type of fault does NOT trip MCBs until insulation has melted and wires are able to short together.

 

[JohnD]

fish smell from electrical fittings is due to overheating.

In the circumstances you describe there is likely to be a loose connection inside the accessory.

Any overheated copper will be discoloured and will have gone soft, so when repaired you are likely to need a new accessory and to cut back the damaged part of the cable to remove discoloured copper and insulation.

If the remaining wire is too short to reconnect you are likely to need an electrician.