Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

[Raspberry Rebel]

Hi, after watching How Safe Is Your Kitchen, I contacted Hoover about my tumble dryer that is just over 2 yrs old, as the moulded plug had overheated and started to melt and it also damaged the plug socket making it unusable. If it wasn’t for the fact that I went into the kitchen to put some rubbish out and walked past the appliance and noticed the plug was a funny colour, I hate to think what would have happened, as the machine did not cut out.

Hoover are telling me they’ve had no other problems with this kind of tumble dryer and have said I can have it fixed but have to pay £119 in labour costs, or if it is found to be unrepairable they will offer me a new one at a reduced price, but if I take out an insurance direct debit for 12 months, there will be no charge and if the machine is deemed unrepairable they would replace it free, both of which I think are unreasonable and unacceptable as it is reasonably new and it appears to be faulty. I’m also not inclined to accept this as since this has happened I have lost faith in their products.

I would like to know how I can find out if any other people have had this kind of problem and if what they are proposing regarding my own appliance are my only options.

I got in touch with RecallUK and they pointed me in your direction.

Kind regards

Michelle

[kwatt]

Re: Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

Hi Michelle,

To my knowledge it is not a common fault on Hoover tumble dryers and this is, I think, the first time I’ve heard of a fault of that nature.

Sadly though this sort of thing can happen on occasion for any number of reasons and would generally be regarded as a normal fault.

Mains leads do not fail very often on any machine but over the years I’ve seen several on many brands and different appliances. It can be caused by a simple faulty lead or plug, a faulty socket an surge in the mains supply and so on.

This is why you are finding that it is treated as run of the mill fault because, it pretty much is. And, until the actual cause is determined it is impossible to lay blame, if indeed there is any blame to lay as it could just be one of those things.

Your home RCD should have cut the power as soon as it burnt though like that and, if you have an RCD supply board fitted then there may be something up with that if this didn’t happen.

Even on an older system, the fuse or whatever should eventually have cut the power preventing any serious damage being done in all probability.

These safety systems, along with smoke detectors etc, are in place to help prevent this kind of thing reaching the point where there is a real danger but, as I often say, if it plugs in and uses electricity, it has the potential to go at some point in its life. That can be a minor little pop or bang, it can even be spectacular on occasion or anything in between but every single electrical product that uses mains power can have it happen.

HTH

K.

[madangler1]

Re: Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

Hi as Kawatt has stated these type of fault do happen. Its just as possible the socket is the cause not the plug its self.

Its caused by a poor contact in either the plug its self or more likely where the plug pin meets the contact in the socket,

Driers are very high powered and are normally around 2.2kw, a socket is rated at 3kw but they will often cheap sockets will melt out well before that.

Because it was not an overload the fuse would not have blown. Eventually if the wires melted enough to touch either the mcb or RCD would have tripped.

The simple answer is it just happens, moving forward cut the plug off and replaced with a good quality one and have the socket its self replaced with a quality make such as MK.

[iadom]

Re: Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

This is more often than not due to a faulty wall socket rather than the plug itself. Any loose or poor connection will cause overheating and worn contacts inside the socket are not uncommon.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Raspberry Rebel]

Re: Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

This is more often than not due to a faulty wall socket rather than the plug itself. Any loose or poor connection will cause overheating and worn contacts inside the socket are not uncommon.

I find it hard to believe that it’s the socket as my water boiler used to be plugged into it and has worked without any problems. I only unplugged it to use the tumble dryer. Thank you for your response

[kwatt]

Re: Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

That being the case, it could have been ready to go at any time if another product was plugged in there previously and it may be that which has a problem and not the dryer. Or, it might have just been coincidence or a fault in the socket.

As is often the case with these types of things, until you actually get to the root cause it’s very hard to call what really caused any problem.

Until it’s all checked out there’s no way to be certain but I’m sure that you will want to find that out and prevent any possible future issues.

K.

[captaincaveman1]

Re: Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

It most certainly will of been down to the socket failing ad not the appliance. Contact an electrician.

[iadom]

Re: Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

Raspberry Rebel wrote:

I find it hard to believe that it’s the socket as my water boiler used to be plugged into it and has worked without any problems. I only unplugged it to use the tumble dryer. Thank you for your response

If you do do plug and unplug the the dryer on a regular basis it is more likely to cause the contacts in the wall socket to become loose.

[mapelectrical]

Re: Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

I agree with caveman.

We have sold 100’s of this model and never had a customer report a faulty plug.

However we do get called out to burnt out wall sockets.

Don’t just change the wall socket though as the cable to it could have been damaged by access heat.

Have a qualified electrician inspect and repair it.

[Martin]

Re: Melting of moulded plug on Condenser Dryer model VHC 180

Raspberry Rebel wrote:I find it hard to believe that it’s the socket as my water boiler used to be plugged into it and has worked without any problems.

You may find it hard to believe yet seek our expert advice. The overwhelming conclusion is that that wall socket you have so actively used high current consuming devices, no doubt for many years, has worn out. The very thought strikes you with horror I’m sure but that is certain to be your problem. Follow the earlier sound advice from my colleagues and get it replaced…you Raspberry Rebel you….!

[Author]

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