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Any help appreciated. I keep the tumble drier out in the shed ( don’t ask) and run a proper outdoor cable to it when its used. Noticed the other day when taking the plug out both it and the socket were very hot. Cable to the dryer about 10 m is stretched out , not coiled and the drier only a few months old. Any ideas? Suffice to say socket now not being used. Electrician the obvious answer?
Dirty contacts on the plug and/or socket. The extra resistance has a heating effect. If it's damp in the shed the plug pins could have corroded as could the socket's, or they could just be old and dirty. You could try cleaning the metal of the plug's pins. Or it could be a loose wire in the plug or socket, try tightening the plug's terminal screws.
Is it a heavy duty cable?
I’d wonder if the cable is of sufficient gauge to carry the current for a tumble dryer over ten meters for the extended time periods drying takes.
The copper cable needs a to be a larger gauge to account for losses over the long length.
How does this compare to what you have already?
https://www.screwfix.com/p/masterplu...xoCPwAQAvD_BwE
Cheers guys. Inside the socket was filthu, full of cobwebs etc. All connections were tight and no damage. So cleaned it out etc. Just opened the cable plug and the 13a fuse is burnt so I know where the heat came from. Cable is a proper outdoor one but maybe not heavy duty so will just get one of them for now. Tumble dryer was on longervthan normal so maybe that caused the issue.
cheers
Some more info
https://www2.theiet.org/forums/forum...&threadid=7332
With things like tumble dryers and washing machines never use a double adaptor, it's one plug, one socket.
That could scare the bits off you. Wife will not have the tumble dryer in the house after all the scares the last few years so will just have to convince her to move it into the porch or divorce her.:smug: So heavy duty cable till that happens.Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Morgan
The bottom line is only use them when you are around. Never put them on and go out or to bed etc. In all honesty they pull huge amounts of power so you don't want them going round unnecessarily as it just wastes money.Quote:
Originally Posted by alas58
I put mine on daily whilst pottering around so I can check on the clothes, empty the filter at the end and switch it off when I'm finished with it. Used properly it is relatively risk free.
Never leave anything on when not in. I’m too mean.
thanks all for the info/advice.
If the clip holding the fuse in the plug isn't tight or is corroded that can also be a source of heating. To be honest even clean plugs and sockets get warm if the current draw is high enough. Those quick-boil 3000 watt kettles are a good example, check the plug's live pin after boiling a full load.Quote:
Originally Posted by alas58
Is the cable also hot? Also is the other end that’s plugged in in the house also getting hot?
The cable was cool but the extension plug into the house socket was the one that was hot as shown up by the fact the fuse was burnt in that plug.
Nailed it.Quote:
Originally Posted by jools