How to Replace a broken Switched Socket
If your switch does not work or trips the breaker, its time to replace the switched socket. If the plug slides out of the socket, that means the switch is too loose to hold the plug. The space between the metal terminals of the plug and the switched socket may create an arc of electricity. That arc can create a fire hazard. This is a pretty dangerous situation and must be addressed immediately by an electrician.
If your outlet is not working properly, following these simple steps, you can replace your own electrical switched socket easily.
1.Test the switched socket outlet for power
Plug your mobile charger and switch on the outlet. If it is not the power socket but the mobile phone charger which is not working, you can plug other things into the same socket, such as a hairdryer or electric light and test the socket.
If your socket does not work, check the Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) or the residual current device (RCD) in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms (anywhere near the water). As you (hopefully) already know, water and electricity do not mix together. Before the advent of RCD, if someone stands in the water, sits in a bathtub or otherwise touches the water and uses electrical appliances (such as a hairdryer), they are most likely to get an electric shock. Electric current may pass through the body and cause electrocution. When the RCD power outlet senses a surge, it shuts down to minimize the risk of electric shock. Unfortunately, even if there is no surge, RCD can become temperamental and sometimes shut down. But this is easy to solve.
2. just press the small rectangular button in the centre of the socket to reset the RCD. Then, plug the plug into the charger and see if it lights up.
If there is a problem in the breaker panel, most of the time, other nearby outlets will also lose power. Plug the charger into another socket in the room to see if it is working properly. If the other sockets are dead, the problem may be on the circuit breaker panel, and we will check the breaker panel now.
3. Check the circuit breaker panel in your home to see if any circuit breakers have been turned over.
Circuit breaker panels are usually located in the utility room or basement, with Miniature circuit breakers (switches), each panel controls the power supply of different parts of the house. Open the panel door and you will see one or two rows of switches, one side marked as “OFF” and the other side marked as “ON”. If the circuit breaker flips, the switch will be in the middle position between OFF and ON. If you find one in the middle, flip it to the OFF side first, and then to the ON side. This will reset the circuit breaker. Return to the problem socket and test again.
If the problem persists only in the selected switched socket, its time to replace. Although not common, the socket may burn out or become damaged and not work properly. You may need to consider replacing the power outlet.
If you plan to do it yourself, make sure that the breaker switch that powers the outlet is in the OFF position.
4. Remove the socket cover and use a screwdriver to unplug the wires from the old socket.
Reverse the process of installing the new socket, making sure to connect the wires as described below.
There are different type of switched sockets used in different countries and regions. These are the commonly used switched sockets around the world. Different switched sockets have different wiring modes. Replaced the socket and try again.
If your outlet is still dead, it’s time to call an electrician. Home wiring is a complex system. Electricians have special equipment and testers to help them locate electrical problems that are difficult to determine. If the previous steps did not solve the problem, it is best to find an electrician.