Do electrical sockets trip when you unscrew the faceplate?

the_worrier · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:13

Changed the faceplate on a 2-gang 13A socket.

All was working perfectly once completed. I started to slightly unscrew the faceplate again to clear away grit/dust caught behind it and Crack!! …. tripped RCD.

Is this a design/safety feature?

One More Solo · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:13

andy_mk3 · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:15

No, something else caused it.

Deleted member 77746 · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:22

You supposed to turn off the electricity when you replace plug sockets.

robj20 · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:27

GaryTheSnail said:
You supposed to turn off the electricity when you replace plug sockets.

He hasn't replaced a socket.

Buffman · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:27

pattojones said:
Changed the faceplate on a 2-gang 13A socket.

All was working perfectly once completed. I started to slightly unscrew the faceplate again to clear away grit/dust caught behind it and Crack!! …. tripped RCD.

Is this a design/safety feature?

Even if you had the MCB off, the rcd is likely to trip if you touch the neutral wire to the earth

If you haven't even got that far, it's likely you have a loose connection and /or need a new faceplate

Deleted member 77746 · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:29

robj20 said:
He hasn't replaced a socket.

Screw that. Faceplate, socket whatever when dealing with electricity it gets turned off. Watch you don’t catch ya finger on a live next time.

200sols · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:43

robj20 said:
He hasn't replaced a socket.

What is he unscrewing then?

Participant · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:46

The screw might be in contact with a conductor.

robj20 · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:55

GaryTheSnail said:
Screw that. Faceplate, socket whatever when dealing with electricity it gets turned off. Watch you don’t catch ya finger on a live next time.

You must have some shoddy writing if your in danger of the socket isn't fully screwed down. All the wires should be nice and secure on the back and perfectly safe.

Deleted member 77746 · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:57

robj20 said:
You must have some shoddy writing if your in danger of the socket isn't fully screwed down. All the wires should be nice and secure on the back and perfectly safe.

I haven’t wrote for years.

Deleted member 77746 · 25 Mar 2023 at 20:58

200sols said:
What is he unscrewing then?

A lightbulb, it takes 3 technicians to replace one.

Semple · 25 Mar 2023 at 21:06

GaryTheSnail said:
Screw that. Faceplate, socket whatever when dealing with electricity it gets turned off. Watch you don’t catch ya finger on a live next time.

If it's been wired correctly there shouldn't be any exposed wiring. Which means you should be able to remove the faceplate screws without any issues.

Only time I'd turn off the electrics is if it wasn't my house or if it was a new house and you didn't know the wiring.

Deleted member 77746 · 25 Mar 2023 at 21:07

Semple said:
If it's been wired correctly there shouldn't be any exposed wiring. Which means you should be able to remove the faceplate screws without any issues.

Only time I'd turn off the electrics is if it wasn't my house or if it was a new house and you didn't know the wiring.

Op didn’t supply the details of where this said thing was happening.

Hawk Tuah · 25 Mar 2023 at 21:10

Faceplate? Some of my newer sockets have a bit of decorative trim on the front. I wouldn't isolate the socket to change one of those. But the actual electrical outlet....

Still, it shouldn't trip if unscrewed. Sounds like there's some exposed wire behind there.

Bluecube · 25 Mar 2023 at 22:01

Semple said:
If it's been wired correctly there shouldn't be any exposed wiring.

“If”

Thekwango · 25 Mar 2023 at 22:05

GaryTheSnail said:
Screw that. Faceplate, socket whatever when dealing with electricity it gets turned off. Watch you don’t catch ya finger on a live next time.

I’m with you on that. Don’t give a stuff what it’s supposed to be like behind the faceplate. If the faceplate’s coming off, the leccy’s going off first!

the_worrier · 26 Mar 2023 at 10:25

I fid turn off the electricity at the consumer unit when I changed the face plate. After I had finished I turned it back on before noticing some cack saw turned each screw about 2 turns to be able to wipe away with a dry cloth and pop!

Chris Wilson · 26 Mar 2023 at 10:38

Damp cloth? Moisture between earth and neutral could cause a trip, and the fascia screws are usually through an earthed mild steel strip. How damp was damp? I wouldn't have expected a crack though, as in a flashover...

200sols · 26 Mar 2023 at 12:38

Semple said:
If it's been wired correctly there shouldn't be any exposed wiring. Which means you should be able to remove the faceplate screws without any issues.

Only time I'd turn off the electrics is if it wasn't my house or if it was a new house and you didn't know the wiring.

Once you remove the screws the socket is loose and since many have cable terminals at the top then potentially live parts are exposed. Nobody thinks they will have an accident until they do... just saying.