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Does a plastic socket need earthing?
Anonymous user 01/03/2024 - 3.00 PM
Hi, I have a plastic socket attached to the side of my kitchen unit where I plug my boiler and washer/dryer. Does this socket need to be earthed? Also, is there any special socket requirement for a washer/dryer?
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4 Answers
DA Electrical
No reviews yet
The socket would need to be earthed even if it's plastic, it is there to protect you or others from electric shock, also would cause the protective device RCD/RCBO/MCB to trip under fault conditions. There aren't really any special requirements along as the socket is wired with 2.5mm cable. It should be wired off a B16, B20 or B32 MCB from your Fuse board.
Answered6 August 2025
5
liberty electrical
Rating: 5 out of 5
Definitely yes, by having an earth on the socket you are therefore earthing the metal appliance i.e. metal washer/dryer where water is also present. Under the current IEE regulations it should have RCBO/RCD protection back at the fuseboard.
Answered27 January 2023
3
Anonymous user
No it doesn’t need to, should be okay with just negative and positive
Answered27 January 2023
0
RTC developments
Rating: 5 out of 5
The answer given was great. I would just add that 2.5 mm twin and earth would need to be a ring final circuit to carry a 32amp mcb/Rcbo etc. All appliances plugged into a socket outlet must have no than 13amp fuse fitted in the plug. I only mention this because the boiler could be one of many higher rated types and may require its own circuit.
Answered8 February 2023
0