Anyone know much about electrics - just checking I've done the right thing

[LaurieFairyCake]

Socket blown, gone all black and had tripped the mains. Was then stuck in 'on' position (socket broken) so couldn't turn ringmains upstairs back on as it just fizzed and tripped

1. I turned the mains off

1. Took socket cover off

1. Took all wires out of screws (6 off them) and individually wrapped them in tape (so not wired in to socket)

1. Turned mains back on - ringmains upstairs now works

I'm now having a slight panic that power is flowing to the wires and melting the plastic - even though they're not touching each other or any metal in the socket.

Could someone reassure me ? I'm not planning on getting the socket fixed anytime soon, it's in the spare room.

You should be fine. Power only flows when there is a circuit, so as long as all the wire are far enough apart (ie more than 1cm) apart, you will be fine.

"wrapped in tape" is not safe.

Tomorrow you can buy a new socket. Best get some green and yellow sleeving for the earth wires as well.

If you had it, you could have used a connector block (the 30A is quite big, but it's useful to keep some 30A and some 6A in your toolbox). it's very cheap.

You cut off a piece with three terminals. You need a small screwdriver for the screws.

These blanking plates can be used to cover the block inside the backbox, but I wouldn't expect you to have them. They are insulated, fire-resistant and keep prying small fingers out. The screw holes fit the same as the ones in a switch or socket.

I don't know what you mean about 'cut off a piece for 3 terminals' - I'm
not putting live wires through them are I?

Fine to put a blanking plate on after and not use the socket.

My next day off is the 15th so whatever I do can't be til after then. I'm off on holiday next weekend so will turn the electric off on my way out.

Thanks to both of you in advance in case you reply again 👍🏻 - they are not touching behind the cover but I don't think there's enough room for them to be as much as a centimetre apart, the wires seem unusually thick and there's 6 of them - house is old though (1860) - looks like the wiring/sockets were replaced about 50 years ago

" I'm not planning on getting the socket fixed anytime soon, it's in the spare room."

You must. it is not safe.

Quite apart from the wires wrapped in sticky tape that will fall off, the Ring Final Circuit as used on most UK sockets is calculated on the basis that current will flow round the ring in both directions. You have broken the ring and it now has only about half the current carrying capacity, depending what's plugged into it, and where.

Did you use proper electrical insulating tape or something else and how many layers did you wrap?

One layer of very thick, sticky, duck tape

Actually not true, I wrapped it round a few times

Thanks for that info about the current, I will get it fixed when I get back then.

There's nothing plugged in permanently working on this floor, just the hairdryer and my phone charging overnight.

You could order a replacement socket by mail order (I don't know P&P rates)

You mentionm the wires seem very thick. Crabtree sockets have large terminals which will accept anything you are likely to find, especially if your have about 7 strands each rather than being single-core. They do need a 25mm (1-inch) deep backbox.

Cheaper brands often have quite small terminals.

If your backboxes are not big enough, when you have time, turn off the electricity and take photos of the wires, showing the colours and the number of strands, if any. Put a coin in shot to show scale.

If you are not used to this sort of work it would be best to get a qualified electrician.

Please turn off the circuit at the breaker and get a qualified electrician to deal with it. Duct tape is not designed for this. Whilst I don't want to put you down for having a go, mains electrics is not something to mess with if you don't know what you're doing. A house fire would be an expensive price to pay for saving a few quid, especially if there's someon in the house st the time.

What you have done sounds safe and reasonable.

no it doesn't.

as an emergency measure what you have done will do until you can fix properly.

As pp have said depending on loading with a broken ring main there is a risk of overheating wires and even if ths does not cause a fire a damaged wire is a much bigger problem.

You should get the socket replaced asap. They are very cheap. E. G 2 or 3 quid from DIY stores etc.

Watch videos in YouTube to see how to replaced socket but basically

Both brown wiresgo to L terminal
Both blue go to N.

Green and yellow go to earth.

Gives the wires a tug once you've wired them as if they are not secure the wires may come loose as you push the socket back into place.

A proper electrician can test the ring main after installation but replacing sockets is permissable for householders if you are comfortable doing so.

@pigletjohn

Why? The wires are separated and insulated.

He's already explained why. OP surely you can sort this outside your working hours rather than waiting for a day off? You haven't even used electrical tape on the wires.

If you have taken wires off and separated then you must be comfortable and have tos to take the socket off, undoing terminals etc.

Replacing it is a 10 minute job and you can get sockets from all sorts of places b and m, home bargains, DIY stores aldi, supermarkets, Corner shops even.

I guess I don't understand why you'd leave a bodge in place, which is fine if shops are closed, but should not be left that way when it is a simple fix.

The wires aren't insulated they are wrapped in paper tape.
You are supposed to cap off now with those end pieces (don't know the proper name) but as suggested a connecting block will be sufficient.
I'm your case UP pay a spark for the hour.

OP not up.

Thanks for all the replies and I agree it's a fix I can probably do.

I can't do it after working hours as I finish at 10pm and I'm not doing it in the dark. I work from home so I need the electricity on downstairs to work (I'm with clients so can't have an electrician in).

I'm going to do it myself if as you say the YouTube video is obvious and until
I can I won't leave the ringmains on (on that floor unsupervised)

And I can't go to shops or indeed get anything delivered because of work until the 15th (yes it's a pain)

I've decided to not fix the socket but instead to cap it off as I think it will be easier to do. I've no idea why it blew so I'm not confident I can replace and not have it blow again.

So if you all think a blanking plate and and a connector thing to screw the wires into is a safe fix then I'm going with that.

Yes just to back up the others this is not safe due to
1 Live conductors without basic insulation,
2 basic insulation accessible without the use of a tool
3 no ring continuity
All that is especially bad if you are running a business from home and having clients in. Maybe it's not a condition of your liability insurance but you are still responsible for their safety.
1 and 3 can be fixed with the terminal blocks mentioned, make sure like colours are connected together. 2 can be fixed with a blanking plate.
Or alternatively all 3 can be fixed with a replacement socket.
Don't forget to disconnect the power when you're working on it and good luck!