Socket blown - can circuit be turned back on?

[George C]

A quick query - one of my double sockets has just blown - a consequence of overload I think. There was a nasty bang, flash and smell. It went as I was switching the socket on (though nothing plugged in was actually on at the time).

I'll get a professional in to deal with it, but I'd like to know whether the circuit (which tripped at the circuit board when the socket went) can be turned back on (obviously with the sockets in question switched off) in the meantime. There's a lot running on this circuit - boiler, TV, washing machine, home office... - so this affects whether it's an emergency call out (on a Sunday afternoon) or not.

Advice gratefully received.

 

[Jurassicspark]

A quick query - one of my double sockets has just blown - a consequence of overload I think. There was a nasty bang, flash and smell. It went as I was switching the socket on (though nothing plugged in was actually on at the time).

Show a picture.

I'll get a professional in to deal with it, but I'd like to know whether the circuit (which tripped at the circuit board when the socket went) can be turned back on (obviously with the sockets in question switched off) in the meantime. There's a lot running on this circuit - boiler, TV, washing machine, home office... - so this affects whether it's an emergency call out (on a Sunday afternoon) or not.

What tripped at the consumer unit? Photo please of the socket and whichever breaker tripped.

 

[ericmark]

It seems likely you only need to leave the MCB for the sockets off. But the RCD can be switched back on. Hope you can see how pictures help. So trying to work out exactly what has tripped.

 

[George C]

Thanks for the speedy replies.
Socket and circuit board below.
A second circuit is also off at the circuit board. That was already the case (and is the indirect cause of the overload - we're waiting for a local electrician to find time to come and look at it).

 

[Murdochcat]

That socket is old. How old is the house

 

[George C]

House is 1930s. We had a new circuit board / consumer unit put in about five years ago when we had a loft conversion done, but no idea how old the wiring downstairs (where the problem is) is. We've been in the house 12 years.

One unusual (I'm told) thing is the circuits for the sockets (and light in the basement) downstairs and 1st floor aren't done by floor, there is one covering (roughly) one wall across two floors and one covering the rest (exc the kitchen (which has its own circuit), the loft conversion (again its own circuit) and the lighting (again it's separate).

 

[George C]

Show a picture.

What tripped at the consumer unit? Photo please of the socket and whichever breaker tripped.

See photos.
A second circuit is also off at the circuit board. That was already the case (and is the indirect cause of the overload - we're waiting for a local electrician to find time to come and look at it).

 

[Jurassicspark]

A second circuit is also off at the circuit board.

That device is called an MCB. It protects against short circuits and overloads. Try turning it back on, if it trips instantly, there’s a problem, and you’ll need to wait for an electrician to attend. If it stays on, unplug appliances on that circuit to reduce the load. However, I strongly doubt the fault is due to an overload condition.

 

[George C]

It seems likely you only need to leave the MCB for the sockets off. View attachment 377155 But the RCD can be switched back on. Hope you can see how pictures help. So trying to work out exactly what has tripped.

This is the circuit board. The only things I can see below the level of the main switch are the switches for the individual circuits. Are these RCDs? I can't see anything that applies to individual sets of sockets apart from the switches on the sockets themselves,

 

[George C]

That device is called an MCB. It protects against short circuits and overloads. Try turning it back on, if it trips instantly, there’s a problem, and you’ll need to wait for an electrician to attend. If it stays on, unplug appliances on that circuit to reduce the load. However, I strongly doubt the fault is due to an overload condition.

Thanks. So I won't blow anything up by trying it?

 

[Jurassicspark]

Thanks. So I won't blow anything up by trying it?

You'll be fine.

Go ahead and turn it back on and see what happens.

 

[George C]

You'll be fine.

Go ahead and turn it back on and see what happens.

It's worked. Thanks.
I've turned tripped circuits back on before but was nervous this time because of the small explosion (as it seemed) in the socket.
Thanks for your advice and reassurance.
Now I really must pin our local electrician down on a time to sort this mess out...

 

[Jurassicspark]

It's worked. Thanks.
I've turned tripped circuits back on before but was nervous this time because of the small explosion (as it seemed) in the socket.
Thanks for your advice and reassurance.
Now I really must pin our local electrician down on a time to sort this mess out...

Did anyone plug anything when the fault happened? The fault more likely will be with an appliance that's causing a short circuit.

How many sockets does the MCB supply and what is plugged into them?

 

[George C]

Did anyone plug anything when the fault happened? The fault more likely will be with an appliance that's causing a short circuit.

How many sockets does the MCB supply and what is plugged into them?

The MCB supplies quite a few sockets but the fault was caused by overloading of a multisocket, in particular using an electric fire. When the multisocket blew it must have blown the plug of the fire too because when I plugged it into the wall socket (on it own, no multisocket) and switched that socket on it spectacularly blew the socket.

 

[Jurassicspark]

when I plugged it into the wall socket (on it own, no multisocket) and switched that socket on it spectacularly blew the socket.

That points out a problem associated to the electric fire. The fuse has probably blown and replacing it without fixing the issue will result in the same problem again.