Tumble Dryer Pins getting red hot

[crystal ball]

Duraplug, MK

 

[jj4091]

Replace the plug as well.

Why change the plug when it was ok in the other socket?

 

[RF Lighting]

Because it may well have been damaged by the excessive heat

 

[crystal ball]

It was getting very hot so may have internal damage, why not for the sake of a few quid

 

[RF Lighting]

My comment was because "red hot" seemed to be somewhat more than a bit of hyperbole.
If they were "red hot" they would have been glowing (incandescent) and touching them would have given you a painful burn.

This is a red hot connection

 

[conny]

Have you tried swapping the good socket with the 'bad' socket and seeing if the heat problems goes with it?
If it does then it would confirm the socket is at fault, especially if it stays cool in the original 'good' socket which is now in the 'bad' socket position.

 

[EFLImpudence]

I agree that will definitely prove it, but there really is no way the location can affect it.

 

[bettz1]

Have you tried swapping the good socket with the 'bad' socket and seeing if the heat problems goes with it?
If it does then it would confirm the socket is at fault, especially if it stays cool in the original 'good' socket which is now in the 'bad' socket position.

No I've not tried that we've only noticed it when the dryers on. I'm sure I've charged my drills etc Bluetooth Speaker in there fine not that they would draw as much as the dryer.

 

[clifford1]

They were red hot to touch

Red hot means they were glowing red. Only a lunatic would touch something red-hot.

 

[wundaboy]

I come across this situation fairly regularly with tumble dryers - it shows up the weakness of the 13 amp plug and socket system to deal with sustained loads near the design limit, i.e. 2.5 - 3kw, particularly with aged or low quality plugs and sockets. The moulded plug fitted to the dryers seem prone to it too.

Here's one example that happened with a friend's Bosch dryer, and this is how the OP's plug and socket might end up if they were to leave it be:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9fy0iq0yll2k4fz/fullsizeoutput_1.jpeg?dl=0

I keep a number of MK toughplugs in reserve for this situation. They are expensive, but worth it in my opinion, as the silver live terminal and fuse holder seem to keep resistance heating to the absolute minimum:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1v8yk4slkvyeqfz/fullsizeoutput_2.jpeg?dl=0
https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/mains-plugs-sockets/0459727/

I also replaced the socket with a new Crabtree, I think they're one of the best compromises between price and quality currently on the market:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/crabtree-capital-13a-2-gang-dp-switched-plug-socket-white/38040

Absolutely no problems in the nearly two years since this happened.

 

[John D v2.0]

it's a reasonably modern MK double socket but it might have been damaged by having an incorrect plug jammed into it. Some of ours were damaged by european plugs The other option is that the plug isn't quite in specification.
Personally I'd just replace the socket and see how it goes, but if you're happy to replace the plug as well then go for it. There's also a chance that the fuse is getting hot and heating the L pin (only), so it might be worth changing that too if you suspect it.

 

[bettz1]

Right I've changed the plug socket and it's been fine, apart from today Mrs put the dryer on and because we were due to go out she pressed the high heat button went to check on the dryer 10 mins later and the live & neutral pins were hot to touch, tried the other socket and it was the same,so I turned the high heat button off and left it another 10-15 mins went back and the pins had cooled down....

 

[JohnW2]

Right I've changed the plug socket and it's been fine, apart from today Mrs put the dryer on and because we were due to go out she pressed the high heat button went to check on the dryer 10 mins later and the live & neutral pins were hot to touch, tried the other socket and it was the same,so I turned the high heat button off and left it another 10-15 mins went back and the pins had cooled down....

Did you change the plug as well as the socket?

Kind Regards, John

 

[bettz1]

Did you change the plug as well as the socket?

Kind Regards, John

No i'll do that tomorrow just wanted to try with just the socket changed first

 

[JohnW2]

No i'll do that tomorrow just wanted to try with just the socket changed first

That was probably a little foolish, since you might now have damaged the new socket. As was said on Saturday ...

Replace the plug as well.

Kind Regards, John