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fuse confusion - is it safe to replace the face on a plug socket yourself?

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  • Nilrem
    Nilrem Posts: 2,565 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    prowla wrote: »
    Don't forget to switch off the electricity before you try and do the job! :-)

    On the right circuit*...;)

    I say this as someone who has got the wrong circuit once and got a shock.

    The easiest way to check is plug a lamp into another socket on the same circuit and make sure the lamp is turned on at the point, when it's off you know you've got the right breaker(or the bulb has gone in the lamp).



    *Never trust what people say is the right one, or the labelling on the breaker, they're not always correct depending on the age of the wiring and how much the person knows about the wiring of the property.
  • tea-bag
    tea-bag Posts: 548 Forumite
    500 Posts
    Nilrem wrote: »
    On the right circuit*...;)

    I say this as someone who has got the wrong circuit once and got a shock.

    The easiest way to check is plug a lamp into another socket on the same circuit and make sure the lamp is turned on at the point, when it's off you know you've got the right breaker(or the bulb has gone in the lamp).



    *Never trust what people say is the right one, or the labelling on the breaker, they're not always correct depending on the age of the wiring and how much the person knows about the wiring of the property.

    Best to turn of the main breaker people don't realise you can still get a good belt from neutral feedback if high power items are being used.
  • wallbash
    wallbash Posts: 17,775 Forumite
    tea-bag wrote: »
    TBH I think we should not be encouraging people to muck about with electrics especially somebody who seems so clueless like the Op (no offence) . I trained and qualified as a electrician in my youth. I don't do it now long story. One false move you could be dead or cause a fire. We also have no idea the condition of their wiring it could be old and just fall apart.

    You don't need to pay for the full services of a electrician just get a competent neighbour or friend or relative to have a look.

    I know this is MSE but there are some places saving money is a false economy.

    I don't know if the OP is clueless. Maybe just careful ( and I have no problem with that)
    But I do get a bit tired of the 'experts' who try and stop those who wish to DIY. We should encourage more to attempt more.

    Very disappointed when I find out that the younger generation can't change a plug, check a fuse, paint a door or put together a flat pack.
    Wallpapering is fun!
  • martinsurrey
    martinsurrey Posts: 3,368 Forumite
    I second not JUST turning off the breaker you THINK the socket is on.

    Turn off the whole house, its safer just in case its a spur off a different ring (and I have seen stranger!), better to be safe than fried.
  • 27col
    27col Posts: 6,554 Forumite
    edited 18 March 2015 at 9:59PM
    When I was an electrical apprentice in the 1950's. The foreman, who was god, said "Do not believe anyone, including me(God) who tells you that the power is off".
    Never work on any circuit unless you have personally ensured that the power is, indeed, off.
    This was good advice and following it has meant that I only received one electric shock in my entire working life.
    I can afford anything that I want.
    Just so long as I don't want much.
  • jeallen01
    jeallen01 Posts: 192 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    Just few other things to keep in mind:
    - The positions of the screw-terminals on the backs of sockets can vary quite a lot, and so the existing wires may not be long enough to reach the correct L, N & E terminals on the new one. (can be dealt with by extending those wires with decent screw-type "choc block" terminals and lengths of SUITABLE house wiring cable, but NOT any old bit of wire you have hanging around!)
    - If you do have to extend the wires, then the colours of the new wires may not be the same as the old ones - so pay very careful attention to what you use, and keep as close to the "old" colours as possible, and the extended Earth wire MUST be sleeved with Green and Yellow sleeving.
    - In any case, AFTER you have done up all the terminal screws, then go around them AGAIN with the screwdriver and retighten them because the copper wire "cold-flows" for a few seconds/minutes, and so what WAS tight the FIRST time may NOT be tight after a short period thereafter!


    OTOH, if all that has been said in this thread looks a little scary, then you probably do need to get an electrician in to do the work.
  • tea-bag
    tea-bag Posts: 548 Forumite
    500 Posts
    wallbash wrote: »
    I don't know if the OP is clueless. Maybe just careful ( and I have no problem with that)
    But I do get a bit tired of the 'experts' who try and stop those who wish to DIY. We should encourage more to attempt more.

    Very disappointed when I find out that the younger generation can't change a plug, check a fuse, paint a door or put together a flat pack.
    Wallpapering is fun!

    I do agree with you, however we all had to learn that is why I advised a friend or relative who could ADVISE & HELP
  • prowla
    prowla Posts: 13,969 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Nilrem wrote: »
    On the right circuit*...;)

    I say this as someone who has got the wrong circuit once and got a shock.

    The easiest way to check is plug a lamp into another socket on the same circuit and make sure the lamp is turned on at the point, when it's off you know you've got the right breaker(or the bulb has gone in the lamp).



    *Never trust what people say is the right one, or the labelling on the breaker, they're not always correct depending on the age of the wiring and how much the person knows about the wiring of the property.
    Sorry - that made me laugh! :-)
  • 500pages
    500pages Posts: 34 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    tea-bag wrote: »
    TBH I think we should not be encouraging people to muck about with electrics especially somebody who seems so clueless like the Op (no offence) . I trained and qualified as a electrician in my youth. I don't do it now long story. One false move you could be dead or cause a fire. We also have no idea the condition of their wiring it could be old and just fall apart.

    You don't need to pay for the full services of a electrician just get a competent neighbour or friend or relative to have a look.

    I know this is MSE but there are some places saving money is a false economy.

    Calling someone "clueless" on the back of a post on MSE is a tad offensive, I'd say. But then I probably take offense easily. :A

    I'm aware that electricity can be dangerous. I know where my fuse box is, I know when the flat was re-wired (it's got the new coloured wiring), I know how to turn the MCB off and turn off individual circuits too. Check me!

    My post actually had three questions in it - only one of which was about changing the socket face. Tea-bag, it would have been wonderful if you could've shed some of your expert wisdom on the other questions I'd raised rather than dissing me and discouraging DIY.

    I have actually, some years ago, wired up a barn with lights and plug sockets, but it was in another country where they don't earth the way we do and I always had someone checking my work.

    I thought the whole point of forums like MSE is to be able to ask other people's opinions! :(
  • Torry_Quine
    Torry_Quine Posts: 18,872 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Do people really need to be told how to change a fuse! It's so simple and straight-forward a teenage child if not younger should be able to do it.
    Lost my soulmate so life is empty.

    I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have -
    Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
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