Detecting a broken ring is one thing. It requires a professional with specialist equipment.
Finding the break in the ring? Can sometimes require sheer experience and good hunches!
Now, finding cables to just fall out from a socket when you pull the socket away from a wall isn't audaciously uncommon. This is what we found at a property in Strood whilst we were fault finding the broken ring as part of our due diligence whilst working at the property.
What causes loose electrical connections?
- Firstly, Not getting cables tight in the terminals
- Secondly, Forgetting to 'tug test' to make sure they're all in nice and tight
- And finally - TIME. Copper is a great conductor, but is it an exceptionally soft material, it can very easily squash to a new shape under the stress of being tightened up. You can go back to the same socket an hour later and there will probably be another half turn in it to get the terminal back up to torque.
So where do you think we mostly find loose conductors?
Loose connections caused by 1 & 2 - Inexperience and misfortune
Loose connections caused by 3 - Properties that haven't had an electrical health check for years, even decades!
Take a look at some of the nasties we've found - including problems caused by loose connections on our Wall Of Flame!
