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A burning smell from a socket or switch
Switch it off at the board and ring. Here is why.
By Joseph Lawrence · 18th Edition (BS 7671) · 2 min read
Do this now
- 1Switch off the circuit at the board, or the main switch if you are not sure which.
- 2Do not use the socket or switch again.
- 3If there is smoke or flame, leave and ring 999.
What it is
A connection that has worked loose and is arcing. The plastic around it is what you can smell. It will not fix itself.
What happens next
I make it safe, find out why it happened, and test the rest of the circuit. You get the readings and a written note of what was done.
