What “exactly” makes 3 pin adapters so unsafe?

[mart]

I was just reading yet another article about someone’s house catching fire due to over-loading the socket with them 3 pin adapters. It’s the type of incident that has happened quite a few times over the years.

Is the main reason for fires and overheating due to the fact that the fuse board/consumer unit is not up to spec, and thus does not trip? Or, is it because the 3 pin adapters being used are the un-fused type? Or, if someone sticks 3 plugs in to one adapter dragging near 13amps each, I would guess that the plastic body of the adapter is going to get quite hot!

 

[brightspark]

that's easily explainable. 3 plugs in to the adaptor and the weight hanging out and a 3 kw fire plugged in amongst other things its obvious what's going to happen

 

[rtbcomp]

I've got one feeding my computer and it needs pushing back in from time to time, especially as one of the plugs is a PSU for the scanner.

A 13A plug on its own will get warm running a heater, times this by 3 and add the heat generated in the adaptor itself you could easily get into trouble.

 

[MattF]

They tend to arc like buggery on the internal contacts too, for some reason. Those double/triple adaptors have no place, IMHO. A trailing socket is far safer. Doesn't pull out of the wall socket due to weight, generally seem to arc far less when a plug is inserted etc.

 

[penfold]

Mostly just overloading, the cube-type adapters usually have quite a low rating, often 5 amps across the three outlets. Plus youhave the additional hazard of stuff just being badly made and not to standard, brass conductors with cross sections far below spec or "1.5mm CSA" cable that has skinnier conductors than phone hook-up wire.

 

[mike 109444]

While doing my apprenticeship (many moons a go!) in the first year one of the subjects we had to cover was basic electrics (house) and the lecture during one lesson passed around one of those 3 way adapters BUT it still had the socket it had been plugged into during use attached. He challenged us to "try and unplug it". Well we all tried and failed. reason it had welded it's self into the socket|! this he explained was not an uncommon occurrence and the cause of many fires. This was back in the late 70's and they are STILL in use !!!

 

[brightspark]

While doing my apprenticeship (many moons a go!) in the first year one of the subjects we had to cover was basic electrics (house) and the lecture during one lesson passed around one of those 3 way adapters BUT it still had the socket it had been plugged into during use attached. He challenged us to "try and unplug it". Well we all tried and failed. reason it had welded it's self into the socket|! this he explained was not an uncommon occurrence and the cause of many fires. This was back in the late 70's and they are STILL in use !!!

a lot of older folk use them and need educating eg take it off them smash it and bin it so they cant retrieve it

 

[rtbcomp]

It's mis-using them that's the problem. My Gran used to plug her iron into the light, you could get adaptors that plugged into the light socket with 2 outputs, 1 for a bulb and the other for whatever.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

It's mis-using them that's the problem. My Gran used to plug her iron into the light, you could get adaptors that plugged into the light socket with 2 outputs, 1 for a bulb and the other for whatever.

I remember my gran doing that, with a Philips iron and granddad with a radio plugged in to another. I was fascinated by the glowing valves in it.

 

[brightspark]

It's mis-using them that's the problem. My Gran used to plug her iron into the light, you could get adaptors that plugged into the light socket with 2 outputs, 1 for a bulb and the other for whatever.

nowt wrong with that . was working at a house the other year and they were still using one another house had no electric at all and the pole fed next door but the old folk never bothered to get it put in till they were 90 year old

 

[MattF]

It's mis-using them that's the problem.

Most things, I'd agree, but those adapters ought just be banned.

 

[Rig Pig]

It's mis-using them that's the problem. My Gran used to plug her iron into the light, you could get adaptors that plugged into the light socket with 2 outputs, 1 for a bulb and the other for whatever.

I have seen small shops running off one light fitting in the souk

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Most things, I'd agree, but those adapters ought just be banned.

What about an IQ test before retailers sell them?

 

[brightspark]

until the governing body's act nothing will be done .woolworths and other large outlets have been selling cheap crap from honkong and now china for years diy ers have been using it which makes it worse

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

They will be toasty.

I have some from work, but some reason I can't safe and post them. So I stole this from the web.

When we do a safety walk around for fire risk, the time we get told, that is ok, always bean like that.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

That's behind my TV.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@RaceDiagnostics
I wish I could access the ones from work.
1 double socket.
With 2 x 3 pin adaptors.
Their out lets had a 6 way extension lead in them.
2 of them had 4 way extension leads into them.
But we did find 1 empty socket. To be told by the site H&S manager;
"Don't plug into that, it trips the breakers"

 

[Gritineye]

It's mis-using them that's the problem. My Gran used to plug her iron into the light, you could get adaptors that plugged into the light socket with 2 outputs, 1 for a bulb and the other for whatever.

Previous owner of our house had an old electric wash boiler perched over the bath for hot water, and yes it was plugged into the bathroom light socket with an adapter.

Long after the insulation and lead casing had melted off the two core cable the wires were left neatly burnt into the rafters, some folk are just plain lucky!

Still got the adaptor somewhere, if I can find it I'll post a pic.

 

[the snooper]

Previous owner of our house had an old electric wash boiler perched over the bath for hot water, and yes it was plugged into the bathroom light socket with an adapter.

Long after the insulation and lead casing had melted off the two core cable the wires where left neatly burnt into the rafters, some folk are just plain lucky!

Still got the adaptor somewhere, if I can find it I'll post a pic.

go and unplug it from your bathroom

 

[Wedg1e]

I remember my gran doing that, with a Philips iron and granddad with a radio plugged in to another. I was fascinated by the glowing valves in it.

Probably listening to Jimmy Clitheroe
(That should turn up a few oldies on here )