This was sent to me last week and is a good reminder for the festive season:
A Contract employee recently shared what can happen to an
outlet and plug of a lead that has been maltreated and left in this condition
over a long period.
The problem was first detected by a burning smell coming
from behind the family fridge.
The electrical plug had been distorted by the back of the
fridge being pushed hard up against it. This had led to the plug being twisted and
not seated properly in the socket.
That is the plug had come out of the outlet
to the point where the active pin was only just making contact which developed
into a hot joint.
The level of risk the home was under became obvious when
the plug was removed and the extent of the burning was noticed due to the hot
joint.
It highlights the point that we should all periodically
check our power points, leads and extension boards to ensure they are correctly
installed and fit for duty.
Check that all appliances in the home to be in good working order and
that installed in a correct manner.
When leaving for any extended period turn off all appliances that are
non-essential at the outlet, as this is a safe condition to leave the home and
also may save you some money on running costs.
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| Outlet with distorted plug |
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| Side view of the plug not fully inserted |
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| Front of outlet showing damage |
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| Rear of Outlet showing damage note the tarnish on the conductor termination |
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| The Plug with the Active Pin showing the damage. The pin has actually melted away |
http://www.thecableconnection.com.au/Wall-plate--Power-point-recess---for-70mm-and-90mm-walls.html
This allows the powerpoint to be recessed back inside the wall allowing for a nice flush installation with out the need to bend the power lead!
