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

[firstlove2009]

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 😆

There isn't a safe way. You'd also be risking injury or even the life of anyone who tried to use the outlet that you've damaged.
Why do you want to do it? I'm intrigued.

Are you trying to get money off rent or something weird like that?

Houses can burn down because of an electrical fault, pick something else.

Turn off the power at the breaker panel if you want to render it inoperative.

Do not do any physical damage to electrical equipment.

You're liable to electrocute yourself or someone else or cause a fire.

Way past unreasonable.

Absolutely would not do this. Broken light switches and sockets present serious risk of electric shock, electrical fires and severe burns.

It depends what you mean by 'damage'. The only real safe way is to switch off the electricity at the mains, unscrew the socket front, disconnect and strongly insulate the wires, put the socket front back and switch the mains back on. That way, the socket just won't work anymore - but won't be dangerous.

Alternatively, replace rhe socket front with a blanking plate... but it sounds like you want to cause confusion, mischief or upset to somebody rather than just decommissioning the socket?

If I really had to do this, I'd hit it with a hammer. You'll crack the plastic but probably (no guarantee of course) won't come into contact with the fizzy bits.

I can't think of a reason why anyone would decide to do this, so you will obviously have to come back and tell us.

Ridiculous post any damaged socket is a dangerous socket

No. No there isn't.

You can disconnect it and then replace (or not) the faceplate.

You could switch it off at the consumer unit (breaker box / fuse box) - although this would also stop any other sockets/switches on the same circuit.

Breaking it seems like a bad idea. You'd risk exposing live wires.

Agree it would be helpful to understand what you actually want to achieve by breaking the socket/switch.

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 if your looking to make it inoperable, you could supper glue something over the holes.

I wouldn't advice what the students do at school which is shove the broken bits of plastic pens into the holes or paper yes paper. This is a really bad idea though, they must be some safeguards on them though as school hasn't burnt down yet.

Better for someone to think you're daft than go ahead and leave them in no doubt.

You would rather break your property than admit you made a mistake?
What happens to you if you are wrong? Is someone scaring you?

Are you 6? You made a mistake but you'd rather break something than admit you were wrong? FFS.

Perfect answer

I wouldn’t damage it. Just because your claim was approved based on what you said, doesn’t mean they won’t push back once they receive a product and see it’s been tampered with. You can try your luck in case they don’t check and send back as is.

Well I can tell you that if you plug a hover in and then spectacularly trip over the cord that WILL damage it.

BUT what are you so worried about being seen to be wrong?

Call an electrician.
Or possibly a psychiatrist.
Something is wrong somewhere.
I find it concerning that grown people can think like this.
Hope there's no one else in the house.

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.

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.