Electrician advice please

25
Posted 19th Feb 2023
Hi there.

I was wondering whether there are any electricians on here who might be able to help please.

I have a standard double socket in my porch which isn't working as it should. We normally use a little fan heater in there and it stopped working suddenly. Thought it was the heater that has an issue but it works on other plug sockets in the rest of the house.

I tested the socket with a lamp which draws less power and also on of those screwdrivers that tests power. The lamp works but is dim and I get power on the screwdriver.

Basically, it seems that the power to that socket is weaker than in the rest of the house. Is that possible? I've also replaced the socket with another and it's the same.

Appreciate any responses.
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  1. bigsparky's avatar
    bigsparky
    Could be faulty socket or switch faulty that switches socket on
    bigsparky's avatar
    bigsparky
    Also check earth cable on both sides to make sure they are connected or not broken

    I found this

    A friend of mine had a similar problem except his was on 3 sockets that were part of a 5 socket ring. He called in a sparky and it turned out that an earth wire on ONE leg of the ring cable had become detached at the consumer unit. He was getting a reading of about 110 volts between the socket's earth and his cold water/central heating pipes. Once the earth was reconnected everything was fine. (edited)
  2. TobyZ's avatar
    TobyZ
    "We normally use a little fan heater in there and it stopped working suddenly"
    Poor connection somewhere on the line. It could be a fire hazard or a sfety risk.
  3. Attic45's avatar
    Attic45
    It might be that the socket was just a spur from the main ring and someone used the wrong wire for it and thus over time the high draw of a heater has melted or damaged the cable resulting in low throughput of supply.

    Best get electrician in to check, might as well do a full check of the house incase there is more, and then re run cables as required back to main box.
  4. aLV426's avatar
    aLV426
    Defo get a _qualified_ electrician to investigate. By the sounds of things it's a spurred socket and the supply lead has degraded over time (it's called annealing and heating up copper causes it's resistance to increase - thus reducing the amount of current it can deliver).
  5. porradude's avatar
    porradude Author
    Thank you both. I did think that to be fair. Just thought it unusual that there's power but not enough of it.

    I'll have to get an electrician in to check it out. (edited)
    Gruff__'s avatar
    Gruff__
    You can tackle this job yourself as long as you buy a full set of Lidl electrical screwdrivers first, that ensures you are fully qualified.
  6. Why_so_serious's avatar
    Why_so_serious
    Use a multimeter to check the voltage at the socket.
    Is it a radial circuit or a ring that the garage supplying this socket is on,?
    Are there any heavy loads in the circuit before this socket?
    Why_so_serious's avatar
    Why_so_serious
    When you say the garage... Is there a consumer unit in the garage or does the cable come from another socket in garage?
  7. stedaman's avatar
    stedaman
    Might be lighting cable to the socket which isn't good (extra demand on the cable which isn't suited) was it a custom job from a previous owner? (edited)
    porradude's avatar
    porradude Author
    Been in the house since 2019 and had no issues till recently.
  8. wayners's avatar
    wayners
    Be worth getting an electrician in to sort.
    Will have correct testing equipment to diagnose the problem.
    Either that or replace cable but that's not really a DIY job. I'd rather get it looked at then decide (edited)
    porradude's avatar
    porradude Author
    Thanks
  9. JHD007's avatar
    JHD007
    Why would anybody put a fan heater in a porch ?
    porradude's avatar
    porradude Author
    No rad in the porch. Fan heater is only put on for like 5min in the winter months when the temp drops to freezing. Not a permanent fixture.
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