View Full Version : One electrical outlet not working
tophang
Jul 18, 2010, 08:32 AM
Hello chaps, I have a problem with the sockets in my new (less than one year old) kitchen. I have had fitted 4 double gang sockets made by one electrical, and one by one the kettle has melted the three plastic openings in the socket front where the plug goes in. I thought it must be the kettle that's faulty, but the wife says that the first time it happened was with a different kettle. I haven't got a clue, maybe someone has I'm hoping. Many thanks, Mark.
ma0641
Jul 18, 2010, 08:45 AM
What is the amperage of the line? With 4 double sockets(8?) on 1, it sounds like a classic overload. A kitchen should have at least 2 separate 20Amp circuits along a counter. A toaster at 1500 watts uses 60% capacity of a 20 Amp circuit by itself. Add a frying pan, coffee pot etc, and you are overloaded. I just worked on a house where the wires melted, burned off the wirenuts and melted the box and the breaker never tripped because it wasn't a short but they had a crockpot, TV, microwave and toaster on the line. Don't burn your new house down.
stanfortyman
Jul 18, 2010, 10:10 AM
tophang, are you in North America or elsewhere, like the UK?
tophang
Jul 19, 2010, 12:17 PM
I am in the uk, so yes 240v.