Just run a new spur from an existing socket, and when I turned off the switch, there is a tiny flash

[Ges1]

Hi all

I've got a spur running from an existing socket, and the wiring, as far as I can tell, is fine. I have an oil-filled radiator connected to it at the moment, and I happened to switch it off at the socket when the lights in the room were off, and I noticed that directly behind the switch, there was a brief flash of light.

To be clear - the light came from the switch, not the plug. It was directly behind the switch, as if there were a bulb. These are the sockets:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-general-900-series-13a-2-gang-sp-switched-socket-3-1a-15-5w-2-outlet-type-a-usb-charger-white/8529p

Wondering if I'm in imminent danger. I'm seeing conflicting things saying that it's either completely dangerous, or totally normal.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Turn off the radiator first and see if it still flashes with no load on the switch.

 

[blup]

Loose connection in socket wiring, safely isolate and check terminations. You can always try the cheap tester sockets first

 

[Taylortwocities]

Loose connection in socket wiring, safely isolate and check terminations. You can always try the cheap tester sockets first

As EFLI has idicated. Most probably the switch was activated when there was a load connected. A spark is quite normal under those circumstances. No point worrying the OP with sleights on his/her competence.

 

[Ges1]

Thanks for the replies guys, it doesn't spark if the radiator is already switched off - do I assume it's just arcing because the contact is being broken?

It's definitely not a loose connection, everything is tightly in place. I have live in live, neutral in neutral, earth in earth, with a secondary earth running from the socket to the backbox. I've tested the connections with a multimeter and everything is registering as it should

 

[EFLImpudence]

Thanks for the replies guys, it doesn't spark if the radiator is already switched off - do I assume it's just arcing because the contact is being broken?

Yes. Perfectly normal.

 

[Jurassicspark]

In the future, turn off devices before switching them off.

Things like this can cause damage if you don't, such as someone turning off the whole supply from the main switch, with the installation loaded.

 

[blup]

As EFLI has idicated. Most probably the switch was activated when there was a load connected. A spark is quite normal under those circumstances. No point worrying the OP with sleights on his/her competence.

The OP was somewhere between imminent danger and nothing to worry about.

 

[Ges1]

Thanks guys, much love. Will turn things off at the unit first in future. It's a pretty good visual deterrent, I'm glad I had the light off, I never considered that a socket has to dump the current somewhere. Thanks for setting me straight

Have a good weekend!

 

[charliegolf]

Aren't small sparks common for switches, giving rise to the warning NOT to operate them if a gas leak is suspected?