Faulty Plug Socket

[Hopkirk]

Advice please.

At my Mum's house I had to unplug the dishwasher and pull it out.out.

When I plugged it back in to the socket, which had the switch in the off position, the circuit breaker for the sockets flicked off.

When I tried it again, the same thing happened.

Can anyone knowledgable suggest what is wrong?

I plan to replace the socket, but does this suggest it is wrongly wired?
Surely with the switch off there should be no surge to trip the CB?

[BRIGHT SPARK]

All good here Togs..are you ok your end?

[Hopkirk]

Thanks Bright Spark and Togo.

Is this neutral to earth fault most likely to be in the flex, or might it be in the machine itself?

Is the machine currently dangerous?

[Togo]

Sound ta Sparks. Hopkirk I would not even plug it in after what you have told us. The fact that it is a drier to boot doubly so. Not really a job for a D.I.Yer I am afraid. I would be changing the mains lead then before plugging in then getting out my trusty Avo meter to do leakage tests.

[Hopkirk]

Thanks Togo.

I will tell them to stop using it, and discuss what we do next.

[Hopkirk]

There is a washing machine plugged into the other half of the socket.

Is there any possibility that the finger of suspicion could be pointed at that instead of the tumble dryer?

The circuit breaker had tripped a couple of times recently, before the day I unplugged and pulled out the tumble dryer.

I am about to tell them we should replace the tumble dryer, as it is quite old, and don't want to make an expensive error.

[Old_Geezer]

You say it triggers the RCD when you plug in the drier so that must be the cause. Whether the w/m has an problem too is a separate issue, but you don't seem to have posted any evidence for that.

[Hopkirk]

Only that recently the washing machine lost all power for a little while, but started working again while the cause was being investigated.

[The Builder]

I wondered if you might have meant t

[The Builder]

Oops ....... I wondered if you meant the RCD. They will operate on a neutral fault as well as a live fault.
Check the plugs first, then have the appliances tested, Hops.

[BRIGHT SPARK]

Hoppy....you may find that damp has got to vulnerable electrics within the dryer..you could investigate..or just get your wallet out..p.s.ditch the test screwdriver..(Togo's pet hate)

[Hopkirk]

Thanks. A new tumble dryer will be ordered.