 | MY PET HATE | | | | | And a total fire hazard ... | Posted by Andrew Mitchell on 23/11/2011 @ 23:25 |
We have all seen the cardboard wiring diagram on the plugs of new appliances. From toasters to TVs, many now come with a piece of printed cardboard pushed over the pins to explain where the wires go should you need to change the plug ...
 always remove the cardboard from plugs so as not to create a fire hazard
However, during my time as a PAT Tester, as well as a "civvy" helping friends and family with electrical appliances and devices at home, the number of times I've seen the cardboard still in place as the plug is in a socket drawing power just boggles the mind. Why? Because it's a huge fire hazard and it really is my pet hate!
It takes less than a second to remove the printed cardboard so why don't people remove it? The vast majority of us know how to wire a plug and if you don't, information is available on the Internet from a wide range of useful "how to" websites. There is no reason to leave it in place.
If you've ever pulled out a plug from a socket and touched the plastic underside or the metal pins, sometimes you may notice they are hot! The more power the device needs - and the longer it is left on - the hotter the plug gets and sandwiching a piece of card between the plug and the socket heats it up so much that it can actually - under certain circumstances - ignite the cardboard! How dangerous is that?
Please! As soon as you've finished this blog post ... heed my warning! Go and check all of the plugs around your home or office and ensure that the cardboard has been removed!
Until next time ... 
ANDREW MITCHELL
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 | FTS SAFETY SOLUTIONS I have been electrical safety testing for over eight years and have worked for various police forces, small and large business clients even the Royal Household and more recently the Forensic Science Services and the Fire Service.
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