Intermittent socket...??

[JamesHughes]

Had a weird experience last night. Other half said that double socket in sprogs room wasnt working (and hasnt been working since we moved in). So I plugged in the nearest thing - a fan - and it wasnt working. SO, thought I'll have a look tomorrow. In middle of night, yells from sprogs room (not unusual - he's 2) so go and check on him, and hear wierd noise as I approach. The fan has turned on!! SO, I switch off at the socket.

This morning - its not working again.

So, aside from the ghost of an old electrician, what could cause this? I have checked the wires going in to the back of the socket (it is a spur), and there doesnt appear to be power there, so it appears there may be an intermittent break somewhere away from the socket. I have no idea how to go about finding the problem though. Thoughts?

James

 

[JohnD]

does/did your house have electric storage heaters on an Economy 7 or similar tariff? where the circuit comes on at night?

show us some photos of your meter(s) consumer unit(s) and the cables around them.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Assume this is the only socket that does this?

The spur will be run from somewhere else on the same circuit.
If it is done properly the cable will go to another socket nearby. Turn off the power and remove other sockets etc and check their connections. Look for a socket that has three cables coming to it. Maybe one is loose.

If its not done properly there may be a terminal box somewhere (under the floor perhaps). Your intermittent joint may be in there.

 

[Diyisfun]

Check the wiring on the back of the intermitent socket.

 

[Spark123]

I like JohnDs idea of the E7!

 

[ColJack]

sounds right to me.. will be a timed supply from either eco 7 or similar board or might have it's own timer..

 

[Steve]

Only one wire, energises at night. Its on an old storage heater radial.

I bet you have 2 fuse boxes.

I bet you are paying over the odds for daytime electric because you barely use any electric at night now you dont have storage heaters.

All assumptions, of course

Someone has converted the old storage heater feed to a socket outlet, without taking it off the E7 supply.

 

[JamesHughes]

Thanks for replies all.

No storage heaters at moment. House on three phase supply, which I guess may indicate electric heating in the past.

The socket appears to be newer than the others in the room - certainly the bad plaster work around it is newer than the paintwork, unlike the other sockets.

I like the idea of socket being attached to radial E7 though - here is a piccy of the incoming power..

and consumer units.

How would I check to see if my supplier still thinks I am on E7/storage heaters?

James

 

[bernardgreen]

Look at the last electricity bill.


If you are on economy seven then there will be two charges

Per meter there is a line of previous reading, present reading, units used, price per unit and cost etc.

If you are not on economy 7 then there will be just one line

If you are on economy 7or similar there will be two lines with different prices per unit.

 

[JohnD]

You have a dual rate meter

and a timer

and a CU stuffed with 15A circuits.

I see no doubt about it.

You have E7 circuits.

Whether you are being charged E7 rates or not is a separate question.

I hope you are saving up to get that old Brown CU (at least) replaced

You can have the circuits reconfigured at the same time.

 

[Taylortwocities]

Make a note of the on and off times on that timer next to the meter. See if the socket goes on and off at the same times then problem is solved....

 

[JamesHughes]

Thanks all.

Yes, I am saving up to have all the consumer units replaced with one big three phase one, and have the three phase taken out to the garage (sounds expensive). Have asked someone to quote but they never phoned back!!

The bill does have two reading - so Problem Solved.

Thanks guys - most helpful as usual.

James