Simple question for an electrician

[TimTom]

The last three times we’ve used the toaster, it’s blown the fuse.

The toaster is several years old but has always worked fine and is kept nice and clean, but it’s suddenly started fusing. This morning I tried it again and as soon as a switched it on there was a bright flash and bang... fuse blown again.

Is it just old age and it’s time for a new toaster or any other suggestions?

 

[TimTom]

Other than checking it for things that are in it that shouldn't be there isn't a lot you can do, lots of toasters use bare nichrome wire on a mica former, if something metallic was to wall in and bridge these to the case then that would obviously cause a problem, burnt currants from hot cross buns and tea cakes can cause issues too, but that is normally any a small leakage which trips the RCD*. I am assuming that in your case, it is taking out a fuse rather than an RCD? Given that you say theres a flash and bang, it does sound like there is a hard fault there rather than just excessive leakage

*That would be Residual Currant Device then....

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

[TimTom]

It's probably part of the mechanism, maybe the "cage" that's shorting against the heating grid when you put it down. I have had a toaster do this to me before.

You could try to check to see if anything obvious is touching anything it shouldn't be, OBVIOUSLY do this with it unplugged and have a good look.

If you really want to go to town you get take a meter to it, and check it around the various parts, take it apart etc. Depends how fussed you are.

Thank you.