AIBU to ask how to safely damage a plug socket or switch?

firstlove2009 · 2026-08-28T17:34:47+00:00

Shameless post for traffic Whats the best and safest way to break a plug socket or even a light switch safely? Any ideas ? I know its a strange ask 😆

KayFabe · 29/08/2026 18:57

That's a nutso idea OP

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nomas · 29/08/2026 18:46

firstlove2009 · 28/08/2026 19:09

It isn't to scam anyone btw and I own my home. It's hard to explain why but basically I thought it was broken but turns out it's fine. I made a fuss over it broken. I wouldn't put myself or others in danger so looks like I have to admit I was wrong

I despair for the human race sometimes.

Vallies · 29/08/2026 18:44

Seriously, are you OK? Who in your life has you this worried about admitting you were wrong?

JudithsCheeses · 29/08/2026 18:40

firstlove2009 · 28/08/2026 19:09

It isn't to scam anyone btw and I own my home. It's hard to explain why but basically I thought it was broken but turns out it's fine. I made a fuss over it broken. I wouldn't put myself or others in danger so looks like I have to admit I was wrong

Well it is scamming someone isn't it, because if you were paying you'd be accepting your error.

MandemChickenShop · 29/08/2026 18:37

sounds very silly op

BertieBotts · 29/08/2026 18:35

firstlove2009 · 28/08/2026 19:09

It isn't to scam anyone btw and I own my home. It's hard to explain why but basically I thought it was broken but turns out it's fine. I made a fuss over it broken. I wouldn't put myself or others in danger so looks like I have to admit I was wrong

Are you safe in your marriage? Sorry if that seems like an intrusive question but I am baffled at the idea of trying to actually break something in order to backtrack from having made a fuss over thinking it was broken. It makes me wonder if the person you made a fuss to is the type to completely overreact if you back down.

If it was you that was unreasonable in terms of the "fuss" then I'm sure whoever was on the receiving end will be OK with an apology? In fact they will probably feel better.

User7989776 · 29/08/2026 12:05

Merrybandofpirates · 28/08/2026 21:11

Do you realise how twisted that is? You’d actually break something rather than admit you made a mistake? I sincerely hope you don’t have children who are raised to learn that sort of behaviour.

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Yeah there are utterly unhinged people on MN! Would rather tamper with electrical sockets to prove they were right instead of just admitting to a mistake.

Asking the internet for "safe" tips is meaningless. You're lucky this isn't Reddit where people deliberately offer the most dangerous version of something under the guise of it being fun or safe and see if someone is actually stupid enough to try it out. There have been several deaths linked to Reddit experiments or life hacks.

Myli1 · 29/08/2026 11:56

HelpMeGetThrough · 29/08/2026 11:48

Unless you had a house like ours when we moved in and it had the old style cartridge fuses in the consumer unit, obviously no RCD either. Scary shit that was.

Was half expecting to see a nail replacing a fuse it was so bad.

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The house I lived in as a kid actually had a home-made wooden fuse box in the pantry, amongst other various bodges over the years. If you used too many large appliances at the same time you’d get an acrid burning smell from there!

HelpMeGetThrough · 29/08/2026 11:48

Myli1 · 29/08/2026 09:32

Standard UK light switches and 13a sockets don’t have their own individual fuses. The circuits are protected by breakers in the main distribution board or consumer unit.

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Unless you had a house like ours when we moved in and it had the old style cartridge fuses in the consumer unit, obviously no RCD either. Scary shit that was.

Was half expecting to see a nail replacing a fuse it was so bad.

Myli1 · 29/08/2026 09:32

CoolNoMore · 28/08/2026 21:15

Unscrew it and take the fuse out. Better yet, replace it with a dud fuse.

Standard UK light switches and 13a sockets don’t have their own individual fuses. The circuits are protected by breakers in the main distribution board or consumer unit.

AbacusCat · 29/08/2026 08:41

If you were worried about people using a damaged plug/switch, for goodness sake don't start trying to damage it, you really will be creating a risk.

Just say it's working OK now and fine to use it, end of story.

Balloonhearts · 29/08/2026 08:32

Why don't you just wait till they've all been out for a day and then just casually say 'oh BTW, I got the plug socket fixed.'

HelpMeGetThrough · 29/08/2026 07:26

letsgoanonforthis · 29/08/2026 06:55

Can I ask why you're so reluctant to admit you made a mistake?

Exactly. I’m always happy if the electrics are fine.

Nothing wrong with admitting you made a mistake, we all make them.

letsgoanonforthis · 29/08/2026 06:55

Can I ask why you're so reluctant to admit you made a mistake?

Mercedes45 · 29/08/2026 06:41

I could only assume you are looking for an excuse to get the hot electrician into your home?

CoolNoMore · 29/08/2026 06:32

@HelpMeGetThrough oh god, I misread/ wasn't thinking. The SOCKET?! Nah...

HelpMeGetThrough · 29/08/2026 04:18

CoolNoMore · 28/08/2026 21:15

Unscrew it and take the fuse out. Better yet, replace it with a dud fuse.

Which would be fine if plug sockets and light switches had fuses, which they don’t.

If the socket/switch is plastic, just over tighten one of the screws, it’ll break it then, however you’ve got to be really stupid to dick around with electrics and do this.

LovelyLass5 · 28/08/2026 22:54

Just say to them ‘errrr, my bad, I made a mistake, it works fine’

Moros · 28/08/2026 21:32

If admitting that you made a mistake is so unbearable to you that you are instead considering doing something that could potentially be lethal, I strongly suggest you seek therapy. Because that's insane.

Seawolves · 28/08/2026 21:19

Is there a problem with being wrong?

CoolNoMore · 28/08/2026 21:15

Unscrew it and take the fuse out. Better yet, replace it with a dud fuse.

Merrybandofpirates · 28/08/2026 21:11

firstlove2009 · 28/08/2026 19:09

It isn't to scam anyone btw and I own my home. It's hard to explain why but basically I thought it was broken but turns out it's fine. I made a fuss over it broken. I wouldn't put myself or others in danger so looks like I have to admit I was wrong

Do you realise how twisted that is? You’d actually break something rather than admit you made a mistake? I sincerely hope you don’t have children who are raised to learn that sort of behaviour.

Sezza57325 · 28/08/2026 20:37

firstlove2009 · 28/08/2026 19:09

It isn't to scam anyone btw and I own my home. It's hard to explain why but basically I thought it was broken but turns out it's fine. I made a fuss over it broken. I wouldn't put myself or others in danger so looks like I have to admit I was wrong

Just say actually you have tried a different light bulb/appliance/whatever and realised it’s that one thing not the socket or switch

Bjorkdidit · 28/08/2026 20:33

We had one who did that too. It took me ages to work out what the sharp crackling noise that came from the kitchen was until I caught him doing it.

DeanElderberry · 28/08/2026 20:23

I had a cat who in old age pissed into wall sockets, more than once. Presumably it gave him some sort of thrill. It broke them.