how do i change a damaged electrical socket?

Question

i have a damaged electrical socket in my corridor, i must have broke it when i was vacuming my carpets, is it summit i can do or do i have to call in an electrician?

Answer 1

first go find the rgiht fuse which operates that damaged socket, then once u have turned it off ,undo the screws on the socket ,when u see the wires check the red coloured wire with a mains taster to make sure it's off, if it is undo the screws holding the wires and take the socket to your hardware store to get a replacement, and then just reconnect remebering where the red and black and earth wire goes, done

Answer 2

Ok the first thing you need is a replacement socket before you even begin the work, so try and get one that is the same make as the broken one. If not, ask for one with a dual earth terminal.
When you go to the electrical (or DIY) store also ask for an electrician's screwdriver. This will enable you to test whether you have turned off the supply correctly.If you can still use the socket, even though it is broken try and plug in a lamp or better still a radio.
When you go to the Consumer unit you should see a row of circuit breakers. More than likely the one you want will be red and marked 32A. It could even have a label telling you what the circuit is for.Flick the switch down to turn off the supply.If the radio stops playing you got the right one.If not switch it back on and try another red one until it does.
Go to the socket and remove the screws. Pull it away from the wall until you can get to the connections at the back.
Now before you do any more, you double check that the supply is off by touching the end of your screwdriver onto the connector where the red wires are connected, keeping your thumb firmly on the other end of the screwdriver. There should be no light from the neon within the screwdriver.ie it is safe to proceed.
Before you do anymore, check that the earth connection is on the same side as the broken one. If not you might not have sufficient cable to reach the connector if it is on the opposite side - hence hedging your bet by getting one with dual earth .
If not it is best at this point not to proceed but get someone in who knows what to do.
However, if all is well, you will need to unscrew the old one off and remove it.
Slacken the screws on the new one so that you will be able to get the wires in.
Look closely at it and you will see an 'L' for live (red wires)
'N' for neutral (black wires). Screw these in making sure they are in tightly by pulling on them when they are in.
The earth cable (yellow/green sleeving) usually goes onto the brass terminal (or marked with a crucifix-type icon).
You might have to use the old screws to put the plate back on.
Plug in your radio(or light) and go and switch on at the Consumer Unit.
If all goes well, go and pour yourself a well deserved drink!

Answer 3

Providing that you can safely isolate (turn off securely) the supply to the socket first, then it is perfectly OK for you to do the work yourself. You need to check that the socket is dead before you touch it. This could be done using a mains tester but in the absence of this you could plug in a table lamp assuming that the socket isn't totally wrecked. Check that the table lamp works in another socket before and after you have checked the damaged one. It's best to use an insulated screwdriver when disconnecting and reconnecting the wires to the new socket. Make sure that the wires go in the same connections that they came out of i.e. Live (probably red) Neutral (probably black) and Earth (green and yellow) Avoid touching the wires just in case. If all this seems a bit too much or you don't have permission from the owner of the property or you can't access to the fuse board which feeds the faulty socket then best get someone who is qualified to do the work.

Answer 4

"how do i change a damaged electrical socket?"

Very carefully.

But, yeah, you can do it yourself if you first

TURN OFF THE ELECTRICITY AT THE CIRCUIT BREAKER BOX OR SOURCE OF POWER TO YOUR HOUSE!!!!

Forgetting to do this will result in severe damage to your brain, heart, body, and the critical extremities of your bad self.

Take off the socket plate, unscrew the damaged socket from its moorings to the socket box and gently pull out the assembly from the wall. Depending on what type of socket you have, disconnect (probably unscrew) the wires at the back of the socket, paying attention to where they were connected at the back of the dead socket. You may even want to label them if you haven't done this before.

Take the socket assembly to a hardware store or home improvement center and buy an EXACT replacement. Don't settle for an approximate match. Ask a store rep for help if you have any doubts.

Install the new socket in the reverse order of how you removed the dead one. Before securing it back into the wall plate, however, test it with a lamp or other electrical device to make sure it works.

If you have any doubts about your DIY (do-it-yourself) skills, call an electrician. But, watch how he does it so that you can do it the next time it happens and avoid the costly house call.

Answer 5

First of all TURN THE ELECTRIC OFF at the mains.
When you take the old socket off the wall make a drawing of where the wires are connected and just copy on to the new socket. Go very carefully..

Answer 6

A standard electrical plug should not get hot in use or produce any sort of smell. Leave the TV unplugged and DO NOT use it until you get both the plug, and the socket outlet seen to by an electrician.

Answer 7

first off you dont plug in a cord to an electrical socket... so all of you saying go buy a socket are wrong...its called an OUTLET not a socket..second...it takes less than 5 min to change one, however it takes 1 sec to kill you..if you dont know what your doing.. which do you choose? 3rd, that being said (i do them live)
take cover screw off (you should turn off breaker tho)
take 2 mounting screws off.....pull outlet out of wall.
Note wires and mark them to which screw they connect to,,
unscrew wires from OUTLET. Do reverse for new outlet..

Answer 8

it's really easy, first make sure the electric is switched off then unscrew the coverplate look at where the wires are connected and join them the same way with the new cover

Answer 9

OK, Go to Home Depot they have sockets and parts that you can use, BUT BE SURE to unplug the device your are working one, take shade off and you can see how its put together, you should only have two wires to unscrew and replace, Hope this helps

Answer 10

if you are abel to do it then just go to the diy shop and get one.
but as you are asking this question then get a electrician as if you are not very good at diy then you must not do it.
please remember that there are new regulations on electrical work in the home