Screwed into red socket wire - Electricians

smcqis

I was refixing the socket to the wall but screwing the screw in each side. When I was tightening the right hand side there was a pop like sound small flame/spark then it smoked a little. It flicked the trip for that section of plugs. I had a look in and it would appear the red wire caught behind the screw and I screwed a little into it.

I put the trip back on and have since there has been no probs. I dont use this plug, so I assume I have done no major problem that needs urgently fixed?

Aylesbury_Duck

get it looked at properly. with the greatest of respect, you don't sound electrically competent so I can't recommend trying to fix it. Nor would I recommend leaving it. How can you guarantee that someone won't come to harm from it?

vaio

if the copper core isn't damaged (likely as as soon as the screw pierced the insulation and touched the core the trip dropped out and you stopped tightening the screw) then I'd just wrap the damaged bit of insulation with a bit of tape and put it back together.

If the core is damaged then it does need a proper connector installing (or maybe cutting the cable back and reconnecting if there is enough slack)

smcqis

Just having a look and it doesnt seem to be badly damaged, maybe just flick the trip and put a bit of insulating tape around that point

smcqis

Maybe this will help explain...



Looks like it could be difficult to get into to get tape around, why are there 2 wires? seems to have caught a bit of both

Russ66

Looks to be ok to me, put a bit of tape around the 2 reds of the ring main, move the wire so you don't trap it again and use a shorter screw or trim it with a hacksaw.

smcqis

Is it ok to wrap them both as one?

Russ66

smcqis wrote: »

Is it ok to wrap them both as one?

Yep. They are joined @ the plug anyway.

cyclonebri1

Don't pis! about, if the job was done correctly in the 1st place, there should be enough slack to enable the wire to be pulled through and shortened, but sometimes needs the backbox freeing up a little to achieve.