Broken plug pin in the socket

Zandoni

thorganby wrote: »

What is obvious to anyone who actually understands our UK BS 1363 13A plugs, is that the top pin is earth, so "turning off the power at the consumer unit" is not necessary.

Turning off the power is 100% necessary. Although it's the earth pin it would open the shutters to live and neutral and it would be so much better to be safe rather than sorry.

unforeseen

Risteard wrote: »

By virtue of the fact that bits are stuck in it and the shuttering is not working as designed it is fair to state that the socket-outlet is not as intended regardless of whether there is visible damage or not. It clearly is an issue which needs addressed as a matter of urgency regardless.

And in relation to your other point NICEIC Approved Contractors and ECA Registered Members are the only ones assessed against all types of electrical work, and not merely domestic work.

In the south of Ireland the appropriate equivalent body is RECI.

The shuttering is working as designed. The shutters are currently open because of a failure in a plug that left the earth pin (which is what opens the shutters) was left in situ.

There is absolutely no indication that there has been any sort of failure to the socket and the shutter system will still work if the earth pin is removed. You have no evidence to claim its failed.

iammumtoone

The correct answer is to call an electrician and I can see why people are advising this, as people on internet forums should only give advise that is best practice.


However in the real world the majority of people in this situation would turn off the electric and try to remove the pin themselves once removed they would carry on as normal. To be honest this is what I would personally do but I wouldn't recommend it to others (especially strangers on the internet who you have no idea of their level of understanding - no offense OP)

calleyw

iammumtoone wrote: »

However in the real world the majority of people in this situation would turn off the electric and try to remove the pin themselves once removed they would carry on as normal. To be honest this is what I would personally do but I wouldn't recommend it to others (especially strangers on the internet who you have no idea of their level of understanding - no offense OP)

No offense taken if I knew the answer would I be asking on a forum about it?


I would never ever go routing around in a socket with the mains left on no matter what pin had broken off. I have been in this house for 14 years and not had a rewire so no idea how good the electrics really are in this house.


Thank you to all who taken time to reply.



Yours


Calley x

Risteard

unforeseen wrote: »

The shuttering is working as designed.

Clearly I was pointing out that the shuttering has been defeated - not that they weren't meant to open.

Also, the cpc pin does not always activate the shutters as you have claimed. Whilst this is the most common method, some plugs (e.g. MK) are based upon both live pins being inserted at the same time to open the shutters.

My point stands that with bits broken off in the socket-outlet the OP certainly cannot simply assume that this has not damaged the outlet - and certainly it should not be left with the shutters open either. (Yes, I am aware that most of the world does not have shuttered socket-outlets, but that doesn't change the fact that this is the design of a BS 1363/I.S. 411 socket-outlet).

thorganby

calleyw wrote: »

No offense taken if I knew the answer would I be asking on a forum about it?


I would never ever go routing around in a socket with the mains left on no matter what pin had broken off. I have been in this house for 14 years and not had a rewire so no idea how good the electrics really are in this house.


Thank you to all who taken time to reply.



Yours


Calley x

You were right to ask but the stock response from unhelpful scaremongers here that you need "to contact an electrician to sort the issue" is ridiculous and totally unnecessary!

If your are not confident to do this yourself, I'm sure that you must know somebody will help you resolve this simple problem.

Most people would DIY rather than wasting their money calling an electrician that they don't need and can't afford.

If you haven't got any suitable pliers, buy something like this https://www.toolstation.com/combination-pliers/p79939 much cheaper than an electrician.

Turn the power off and pull out the protruding earth pin from the top hole of the socket and discard the broken adapter.

Stating that "bits are stuck in" the socket and that "it's not acceptable to leave a known damaged outlet in situ" are simply unhelpful, unfounded assumptions that can be ignored.

Wassa123

The clear answer you're looking for is:

1) Turn the power off

2) Try and get the pin out with pliers. (Personally I would still remove the socket and check the condition of the socket, and put it back if it is in a good condition, else replace it).

3) Failing that, remove the socket from the wall and see if you can push the pin back through from the other end, then put the socket back if it is in a good condition.

4) Failing that, replace the socket.


Note: If at any step you're not confident, then call an electrician.

scd3scd4

Off at mains always!


New plate a couple of £. Can be changed by average DIY in 10-15 minutes. If not you then a competent friend/relative.

Jackmydad

Wassa123 wrote: »

The clear answer you're looking for is:

1) Turn the power off

2) Try and get the pin out with pliers. (Personally I would still remove the socket and check the condition of the socket, and put it back if it is in a good condition, else replace it).

3) Failing that, remove the socket from the wall and see if you can push the pin back through from the other end, then put the socket back if it is in a good condition.

4) Failing that, replace the socket.


Note: If at any step you're not confident, then call an electrician.

You've missed out the second step after switching the power off, and that's to test that there is no power on the equipment you'll be working on. That it is "dead" electrically.
You need (preferably) a two pole tester, or a multimeter to do that.
It's one of the tools you need to work on electrics. Plenty don't check I know, but that's not the right way to work.
See my earlier post as to why.