Have you ever known a mains plug overheat or catch fire?

avoidtheupsidedownbottles

Discussion on another thread raised the question of how often this actually happens.

A poll will be added in due course . . . possibly.

grumbler

Define "overheat"

avoidtheupsidedownbottles

Personally in half a century I've only witnessed one plug overheat.  A 600 watt microwave oven that was never unplugged.  After many years, one day smoke started issuing forth from the plug.  There was evidence of corrosion at the connections, perhaps due to the humidity from the cooking.

(And no, I don't know how to create a poll.)

avoidtheupsidedownbottles

grumbler said:

Define "overheat"

Good point, there's degrees.  I suppose where it gets too hot to comfortably touch?

MovingForwards

I've had plugs get warm, but still able to touch / grab therefore not exactly 'hot'.

Not personally, or friends / family, have a plug or socket catch fire.

Alter_ego

Yes, but I once worked for the Fire Service.

fenwick458

never catch fire, but i've seen them get so hot they turn brittle and disintegrate when you touch them, which exposes live parts.
all electrical stuff is made with self extinguishing plastics, you can't set fire to it if you try.
most electrical fires start by setting something easily combustible on fire thats next to where the overheating occurs

cymruchris

Overheat yes - catch fire no. 

shaun_from_Africa

fenwick458 said:

all electrical stuff is made with self extinguishing plastics, you can't set fire to it if you try.

All electrical items that are good quality and in accordance with set standards maybe but I doubt is this is the case with many of the extremely cheap and poor quality items that come from the far east.

FreeBear

Yes. I have had plugs overheating. One showing signs of melting, others with scorching around the pins. Not had any fires caused by faulty plugs (or any other unplanned fire).

Also had a three phase plug overheat to the point where the pins welded themselves to the socket - An industrial setting with a company that had a cavalier attitude towards health & safety.

shaun_from_Africa

FreeBear said:

Also had a three phase plug overheat to the point where the pins welded themselves to the socket - An industrial setting with a company that had a cavalier attitude towards health & safety.

Something that I've come across on more than one occasion but to be honest, in some of the places I've worked around the world, this sort of thing is only to be expected.