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Electrical

Double plug socket has 3 earth's and power when switched off

Anonymous user 28/02/2024 - 4.05 PM

Hi, So, I changed a double plug socket as the on/off button was stuck in the on position. When I opened it up there were 3 earth's, 1 was not connected. Not sure where that came from but I do have a wall mounted light, is it possibly from that? Anyway, I connected all 3 of the earths into the terminal, should I have done that? Secondly, I noticed yesterday when switching the plug off that the extension lead still had power and everything worked. I confirmed this by removing the plug which shut the power so, why am I still getting power when the plug is switched off? Is the faceplate broken again?

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3 Answers

H & A Electrical Services

Rating: 5 out of 5
Burton On Trent
Yes, the faceplate is broken. The third earth wire might be the wire that is sometimes used to earth the back box. If it disappears out of the box, I would connect it with the others.
Answered23 November 2022
8

Anonymous user

It doesn’t necessarily mean the faceplate is broken. Are you sure you connected the cables in the correct terminals because if you didn’t and you have fitted a single pole faceplate not a double pole one the electricity would flow. If all cables are connected in the correct terminals then I agree faulty faceplate.
Answered4 December 2022
1

Anonymous user

The 3rd earth going to nothing was most likely a bonding earth to the metal back box in the wall
Answered14 December 2022
0