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Was watching the TV before going to bed... heard some crackling noises from the kitchen, went to investigate and saw acrid smoke coming from behind the dishwasher.
Pulled the dishwasher out and found the plug and socket in a bit of a state:
The (~12 year old) dishwasher was running at the time, so it looks like it has had enough of bowls adorned with spot-welded cheerios and copious quantities of tea mugs, but I am concerned that the fuse/breaker in the Consumer Unit didn’t trip... anyone know why this would not happen?
Also, glad I didn’t go to bed early!
Don’t think that’s the dishwasher at fault there, more like a shoddy socket. RCD would only trip if it detected back current through the earth. The MCBs wouldn’t trip as it was probably drawing less than the circuit rating? I thinks you need an electrician.
Electrical fires are utterly terrifying.
Edit: has the plug melted internally???
Assuming that it's either a ring or a single spur, and the cable/fuse sizes are appropriate then the design is probably ok.
Wire fuses or the cylindrical fuses that you replace can gently cook way past what's good for your circuits. MCBs are better in that respect
RCDs will only operate with a fault to earth, and over current won't necessarily trip them
It could be any number of things, so get the house inspected and tested (recommended every 10 years)
I'm not a sparky, but I'm pretty sure the current regs state that inaccessible sockets should have a switched feed mounted above the worktop so you can isolate faulty appliances without pulling the whole machine out which can be quite an effort without the added panic of smoke.
The previous occupant who renovated our house fitted said switches...and then built a cabinet around the boiler in the same area so you have to use a wooden spoon to turn the switches off!
Seeing as you need the socket replacing, suggest you get those switches added.
A compression joint... lazy diy.
Can't help on the electrical / why the fuse didn't trip but I will say again that my mate had the same happen and was woken by the smoke alarm. When he got out of his door the house was full of smoke and the kitchen ablaze. The fire brigade were there quickly and the fire was stopped from spreading, but he and his girlfriend were out of the house for nearly 6 months while it was repaired and made habitable again due to the smoke damage in almost every room.
Do not run high draw appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines, tumble driers, etc.overnight or even while out of the house. This was the advice given by the fire service, and a different mate who is a fireman agrees; the risk of it happening is low (as is the risk of house fires in general) but it does happen and the effects can be catastrophic. And the risks are avoidable; it is tempting to turn it on last thing at night and wake up to clean plates, but just set it on after tea time while you're there, and wash your last cups by hand.
Glad you got lucky and were there to deal with it.
got smoke alarms? if not contact your local Fire service and they'll fit for free.
and also do a very useful and thought provoking fire survey / plan for you if you ask.
I think Bruneep is 'in the trade' - I know a few on here are. Whatever, again I'll put it on record that i appreciate all you lads and lasses in the emergency services, but I hold someone whose job it is to go into a burning building when every natural instinct is to run in the opposite direction in the highest of high regards.
I mean, clearly you're crackers, but I'm glad you are.
got smoke alarms? if not contact your local Fire service and they’ll fit for free. buy some yourself and don't waste precious budget from an emergency service.
😉
they are free from the government. why would you buy?
🙄
they are free from the government. why would you buy?
Because I can afford not to have to?
Looks like the fire was in the socket, not the plug or the dishwasher. The socket doesn't look well installed - cable (looks like flex?) on the surface, broken plaster. Don't know what the regs say but I don't think I'd want a compression fitting that close to a socket either.
Because I can afford not to have to?
fair enough. no everyone can and do
but like everywhere else we have targets to meet. We are under pressure to fit and install X amount every month.
When I lived in my previous house the neighbouring house was bought by a couple to refurb and rent out. They discovered that all the sockets in the house were wired in 1.5mm cable. Quite a few of them were a little black inside. Looking at that socket and the way it's put in there is now way I'd have been using it without checking it.
I agree with some of the above. Looks like a dodgy socket. May be nothing wrong with the dishwasher.
Surprised no one has mentioned the fitting of the socket, visible cable to the side, looks like the wall was set about with a hammer and never made good. Given the level of work here you may find that the wiring was crappy and has just been arcing in behind the plate.
Looks like a lucky catch preventing an electrical fire. Buy a lottery ticket this week!
scary stuff. how is the faceplate connected to the back box? looks like I can see flex to the left but no surface back box? can you move the faceplate by hand? if you can potential the connections have worked loose as plugs were installed / removed and vibration of the machine.
not sure what the fuss about the compression fitting is. I'm slowly replumbung the whole house in plastic pushfit stuff that has long guarantees. plus whilst not easily accessible the joint is accessible
beaten to it by 1 minute!
That looks just like the sockets you see in the average African hotel.
Make sure you all have a fireplan too - sisters bil died after going back into their burning house to rescue his daughter - she was safe but in the back garden
High resistance connection in the socket at a guess.
Incoming wiring not probably terminated and clamped (stuck in and screwed up tight).
I can also recommend having a fire safety visit. Very useful, thought provoking and helped us make changes.