The Knowhow
It's common sense but electrical appliances need to be maintained to make sure they are safe to use.
Safe sockets and plugs
What to watch for:
- Loose wiring - check for hot plugs or sockets, scorch marks, fuses that often blow, or flickering lights
- Badly wired plugs - any coloured wires sticking out could come loose and debris could also get into the plug. Make sure the wires are held firmly in place inside the plug
- Using the right adaptor - advice says it's better to use a bar adaptor (multi board) on a lead than a block adaptor
- Overloading sockets - don't plug one adaptor into another and try to keep to one plug per socket
Cables and Leads
What to check for:
- Lead condition - replace the lead if it's getting frayed and damaged
- Out of sight cables and wires getting worn through - if they run under a carpet or behind a sofa check them regularly
Fuses
When you're fitting or replacing a fuse, it's important to use the right one for the appliance to make sure it doesn't overheat. Check the manual or look for a sticker on the appliance to find out its wattage and then use the correct fuse:
- For appliances up to 700 watts, use a 3 amp fuse
- For appliances between 700 and 1,000 watts, use a 5 amp fuse
- For appliances more than 1,000 watts, use a 13 amp fuse
Following our commonsense gadget guide will make sure you and your electrical appliances are kept in their best condition.
