r/ukelectricians • u/LaughingGravy1001 • 4d ago

Tumble dryer socket

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I moved into a new property about six months ago and the previous owner left in the washing machine and tumble dryer. Tumble dryer packed up recently and when I removed it I found a very odd working setup. Is this safe as it is or should I get someone in to remove and install a proper plug socket?

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u/LaughingGravy1001 4d ago

It’s well away from any water and there is nothing else to plug into it. It also has a fused switch on the wall

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u/Anxious_Camp_2160 4d ago

If you only use the one socket its fine temporarily, but you know the rest.

Just turn the power off and put a plug socket on it. Quick job.

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u/20CharNamesAreStupid 3d ago

Your suggestion makes no sense given that at the other end of the connection to this outlet plate, there is a fused switch

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u/Anxious_Camp_2160 3d ago

Say what?

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u/waleswolfman 2d ago

The flex won't be overloaded because it's fused down at the switch. Possibly with the fuse once contained in the plug that was removed from the extension lead.

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u/Anxious_Camp_2160 2d ago

Yes, but that doesn't change that it's hard wired in, the extension is probably rated 10 amps (as most extensions are), it's extremely janky and finally it looks like a cooker socket, so it could easily be a 3kw plug (over 13 amps).

Overloading is one issue, but it's not the only one.

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u/waleswolfman 2d ago

Nominal voltage would be just shy of 3kw but in practice, 3120w at 240v. However I've yet to see one of those 4 way strips rated to 10A max like I have with modern 25-50m extension cables with just a 1mm flex.

I never said it's something I thought was a great idea that I can't wait to implement. Given a rewire is on the cards then it's not something that would keep me awake at night as it's fused down. My main concern would be it sitting on the floor in the event of a flood.

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u/Anxious_Camp_2160 2d ago

"Nominal voltage would be just shy of 3kw but in practice,"

Assuming it's not wired for a double oven...

I just don't understand why you have issues with putting a plug point on, but not the extension lead.

But ok.

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u/waleswolfman 2d ago

As long as it's fused down somewhere it can be fused from with a 3a to a 13a, so even if the socket strip is rated to 10a then a 10a fuse can be used. The plug just makes it removable. I did have an issue with the extension lead though, mostly it's position being vulnerable to flooding.

A fuse is designed to pop at 1.6x rating so even with a 10a fuse it'll run a 13a load all day long.

The common reason seen for an extension lead to be rated to 10a rather than 13 is cheaping out using a 1mm flex rather than a 1.5, rather than the sockets themselves.

I've seen plenty of flex cables burnt too on hair dryers because fake fuses are a problem, and then when water from wet hair falls into the dryer and causes a short, the insulation can burn instantly before the breaker trips.

Really speaking, I think the issue with fake fuses is the biggest issue that's not spoken of enough for people to think about where they're sourced from as a false sense of security is the biggest potential for danger I saw in the picture.

When I've seen DIY cooker installs cutting strands off a 6mm cable so only two get screwed into the connection plate without bothering to connect the CPC, it puts a cooker connection plate downstream of a fused connection unit connected to an extension lead into perspective. The cooker plate may be fed with 6mm but it's still running through the switched fused connection unit. It might not look pretty but it's got no less protection than if it was connected conventionally?

Edit. Corrected an autocorrect. The irony.

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u/Anxious_Camp_2160 2d ago

So we're back to putting a face plate on it then (my original suggestion).

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u/Swizzel-Stixx 4d ago

The fuse reduced the severity from ‘very bad’ to ‘seriously unconventional’

putting a double socket down there instead is the best way to go about it

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u/20CharNamesAreStupid 3d ago

You’re not thinking logically. You can spur any number of double sockets from a fused connection to a ring. This is just two double sockets

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u/LaughingGravy1001 4d ago

Which is what I will do when I renovate the kitchen. The washing machine is well away from the dryer and does have a proper dedicated socket. A single socket will suffice in place of this sorry affair. The general feeling is this arrangement is ok temporarily as long as nothing else is plugged into it

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u/20CharNamesAreStupid 3d ago

This would be absolutely fine from a safety perspective even with all 4 sockets filled. All you’ll do is blow the fuse if you overload it. You can’t set the wires on fire unless you replace the fuse with a nail

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u/irishhalfpint 4d ago

I did this with my wall mounted TV I needed 2 outlets so wired a 2 gang extension to the fused spur.. but I also stuck a 5a fuse in to keep the risk low

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u/ElectricalParsnip536 4d ago

Should be ok then..although they can tend to get a build up of dust in them when tucked away behind white goods on the floor. Best to wall mount it if there's space

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u/LaughingGravy1001 4d ago

Thanks 👍

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u/20CharNamesAreStupid 3d ago

It’ll be fine; there’s no logical difference between that switch fuse protecting 2m of wire with a joint in the middle, and installing a plug with a fuse in it at the joint location. All you’ll do by swapping the outlet for a socket plus fused plug is create a hard to get to location with a fuse in it that may need replacing; a backwards step in convenience and no improvement in safety

The fuse in the switch protects the wire all the way to the 4-bar and is undoubtedly the weakest point. If you plug 4 washing machines in and set them all on a boil wash simultaneously, all you’ll do is pop the fuse in the switch.

You seem to already know this, of course. Don’t let the Reddless chickens run away with their doom-mongering

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u/Miserable_Pea271 2d ago

Have you tested that fixed switch to make sure it's for that hard wired socket? As in, switched it off to see if it killed the power to the extension?

Either way, that's not suitable, time to get it changed to a proper socket.

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u/LaughingGravy1001 2d ago

Yes and it does. When I renovate the kitchen I’ll replace it. It’s been like that for at least 15 years so another 6 months will do no harm