Plug in heaters SAFETY ALERT (1 Viewer)

[Stretto Boy]

A few weeks ago, someone on MF mentioned these plug-in 500 Watt heaters:

Amazon product

I bought a couple of them for background heating in the house and as back-up heaters for the motorhome. Within an hour, one of them had failed and there was a slight acrid burning smell. This is what the wall socket looked like when I unplugged it:

 

[Duck Truck]

Blimey
can you inform AMAZON

 

[pappajohn]

Poor contact between plug pin and socket blades.
Determining which was at fault would be hard by a quick visual inspection.

We'll worth the heads up regardless.

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[Jaws]

I agree with PJ, and would urge you to replace the socket before further use

 

[Lenny HB]

Agree it's the socket thats faulty doubt if there is anything wrong with the heater.

 

[charliesgrandad]

Is it me or can no one else see the picture of the heater?

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[34127]

Agree it's the socket thats faulty doubt if there is anything wrong with the heater.

If the wire was not terminated correctly in the plug then the plug could easily overheat and cause damage to the socket. Both the plug and socket would need to be examined to determine what was at fault.

 

[CWH]

Is it me or can no one else see the picture of the heater?

Do you have an ad-blocker switched on?

 

[charliesgrandad]

Do you have an ad-blocker switched on?

Err yep, if only I had a brain

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[pappajohn]

If the wire was not terminated correctly in the plug then the plug could easily overheat and cause damage to the socket. Both the plug and socket would need to be examined to determine what was at fault.

I would think the live pin would be soldered directly to a small PCB within the heater body and any HEAT that close would destroy the PCB and be contained within the heater/plug body.

 

[MitchandJenny]

I found that a Tube heater 40watt per foot ( I got a 4 foot one ) kept the temp at a fair level and safe as houses.
Mitch.

 

[Anthea M]

Thanks for the heads up Keith.

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[GWAYGWAY]

That will happen with ANY higher consumption appliance.. There is a point of HIGH resistance on the live contact on that socket itself. It might be a dirty or loosely squeezing connector or more likely the wire into the back is loose and a bad conection results.. The plastic gets hot and it will stink a very di'stink'tive smell , once smelt never forgotten.The smoking around the outlet is indicative of arcing. Get a new socket form a supplier or even B&Q but change it and tighten the screws TIGHT. That socket can take 13 amps shared between the two outlets not 13 each.

 

[SpeedyDux]

Crikey. The current ought to be only 2.2 amps.

Unless there was arcing or a short circuit you would not expect that socket damage.

 

[Stretto Boy]

Blimey
can you inform AMAZON

I have!

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[Stretto Boy]

Thanks for your comments everybody. To those who suspect the socket, I can only say that this has previously been used for years with 2Kw heaters without difficulty. Which is not to say that you are wrong but I would be surprised if the 500 Watt heater is not at fault.

 

[tonyidle]

Thanks for your comments everybody. To those who suspect the socket, I can only say that this has previously been used for years with 2Kw heaters without difficulty. Which is not to say that you are wrong but I would be surprised if the 500 Watt heater is not at fault.

I'd be surprised if it was. If a poor plug termination was the cause the plug would show first signs of over-heating. If the plug pin is not within the size tolerance than that could cause. Other than those two I can't think of znything the heater could do to cause it.

 

[tonyidle]

That will happen with ANY higher consumption appliance.. There is a point of HIGH resistance on the live contact on that socket itself. It might be a dirty or loosely squeezing connector or more likely the wire into the back is loose and a bad conection results.. The plastic gets hot and it will stink a very di'stink'tive smell , once smelt never forgotten.The smoking around the outlet is indicative of arcing. Get a new socket form a supplier or even B&Q but change it and tighten the screws TIGHT. That socket can take 13 amps shared between the two outlets not 13 each.

The socket can in total support 20A.

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[Stretto Boy]

I can confirm that there are no signs of anything untoward on the pins, only on the face plate of the socket.

 

[pappajohn]

For your own safety, after turning the breaker off, I would suggest you, at least, remove the plate from the wall and check the terminals for security and the wires for burning and dried/cracked insulation. Takes minutes but could prevent a fire.
Personally, for a few quid (MK sockets are CHEAP) I would just replace it for peace of mind.

 

[daveandsan]

For your own safety, after turning the breaker off, I would suggest you, at least, remove the plate from the wall and check the terminals for security and the wires for burning and dried/cracked insulation. Takes minutes but could prevent a fire.
Personally, for a few quid (MK sockets are CHEAP) I would just replace it for peace of mind.

Don’t attempt this if you are not sure what you are doing.

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[Badknee]

Nobody but nobody has suggested having a look at the new product.
Keith @Stretto Boy informed you in his first post that one out of the pack of two failed straight away, why not suggest a bad batch?
He informed you that the socket is regularly used and at no time has anything like this happened until the new product was plugged in but everyone pointed the blame at the socket.
I think your wrong and I would suggest the new appliances are faulty.

 

[Jaws]

Nobody but nobody has suggested having a look at the new product.
Keith @Stretto Boy informed you in his first post that one out of the pack of two failed straight away, why not suggest a bad batch?
He informed you that the socket is regularly used and at no time has anything like this happened until the new product was plugged in but everyone pointed the blame at the socket.
I think your wrong and I would suggest the new appliances are faulty.

Quite possibly the device is faulty.. But as an electrician would YOU use that socket again or recommend it replaced ?

 

[Badknee]

Quite possibly the device is faulty.. But as an electrician would YOU use that socket again or recommend it replaced ?

I would first check the heater.

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[pappajohn]

Well, I've given my advice and I'm sober.

Time will tell who is correct.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Looks like a scabby old socket anyway, swap it for a nice MK one

 

[pappajohn]

Looks like a scabby old socket anyway, swap it for a nice MK one

It IS an MK.
Maybe why it's gone phutt.

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[Badknee]

Well, I've given my advice and I'm sober.

Time will tell who is correct.

Oh no doubt it will be you, your always right.
I bow to your far superior knowledge of everything

 

[Richard n Ann]

It IS an MK.
Maybe why it's gone phutt.

It's not a very nice one though. B&Q sell nice modern MK ones

 

[Richard n Ann]

All hail the Pappa

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