What is so wrong with this picture!!

[dynomo]

Was called out earlier today, a lady pointed out that she was seeing a blue flash of light when she'd turn the appliance off at the switch, the appliance being a clothes iron in this case. At first, I thought this could be a case of changing the existing socket to a higher quality one to note for any differences...upon opening the face plate, the following was revealed!

Can anyone spot what on earth was so wrong about this socket!!!

 

[janspeed1]

the live wire runs to earth?!

 

[dynomo]

the live wire runs to earth?!

no infact it wasn't as bad as that!!

 

[comms]

Reversed polarity.
Looks like the plug has been getting warm.

 

[dannyboi2003]

Not earthed because the sleeving has been pulled off slightly and the screw is just gripping the sleeve ??

 

[dynomo]

well spotted dannyboi! no earth!!!
that was def a fault, but most imporant was the fact that this was the 2nd of two spurs coming off an original spur!!! the original spur wasnt even protected by a 13A fuse, it was linked direct to the ring main. so thats 3 spurs from the ring, and wait for it, here it is, all 3 spurs wired in 1.5mm cable!!! That cable up there is 1.5mm!!! I ripped everything out, used 2.5mm, protected all spurs with a 13A FCU and changed all sockets to crabtree doubles, and wey hey, no blue flashes of lightning or banging sounds upon disconnection!! wat an easy one i must say!

 

[dannyboi2003]

Yay

Do i win a prize?

Seriously though thats probably an all too common DIY bodge, glad to hear you put it right. Removed something similar myself a while back, some friends wanted me to remove the power in the garage and outhouses as they were having a new roof put on it, as part of the job new electrics were being installed. Power had been taken from a spur under the stairs for the central heating which fed a single socket with a double adaptor feeding two freezers which in turn fed a double socket with a washing machine and tumble dryer plugged into it. Oh and spurred off this in the roof space with choc blocks was the outhouse light, no fusing down or anything . All now removed and nice new wiring in place.

All the best
Dan

 

[dynomo]

phowaaa
ok now that is scary!!!

 

[Mark1972]

OK... another one for you. Customer complained of an unpleasant smell when showering. The clue is in the picture.....

 

[dynomo]

F*** me what the hell happened to the neutral in that terminal block!!!
is that 2.5mm T&E??

 

[Mark1972]

It's 6mm. The shower is 9.5kw. It might have been that the neutral wasn't tightened up properly, but I recon it was only a matter of time having used the 6mm.

 

[Roo]

OK... another one for you. Customer complained of an unpleasant smell when showering.

Customer didn't shower often enough?

 

[dynomo]

talking of showers, any one fancy taking one under one of these!!!!

 

[davy_owen_88]

That looks like something from a torture chamber.

 

[dynomo]

and then after ur relaxing shower, connect your haridryer to this socket!!!