When electrics go wrong!!!

[Darkwood]

Just setting up a new sticky thread that unlike the dodgy trade pics thread is focused on showing the result of failures in electrical installations IE - damage caused which may be due to various reasons. Please do not post pics of poor workmanship if there is nothing else to show like the consequences, use the dodgy pics thread for that.

I will start off below with an example. I am hoping the fresh faced members and inexperienced can get a visual incite of what to expect when you come across such things and how to understand what has occured.

 

[Lister1987]

2 words; Michaels Story

It's something that really brings it home (plus the ----ing company wasn't overly affected iirc, slap on the wrist type thing, corporate bastards)

 

[Soi disant]

(plus the ----ing company wasn't overly affected iirc, slap on the wrist type thing, corporate bastards)

'twas ever thus...

 

[old man sparky]

Watched an apprentice making a flex off on a Klick plug in. Got fed up holding the Klick so plugged it in and continued to make off the POW !!! New snips needed.
Have I been caught out !! Yep borrowed neutral on emergency light fitting. Never fell for that one again.
Also had a call from an office reception. The very attractive young ladies were complaining about shocks from a steel staircase. High heeled shoes on nylon carpet !! So I explain about static charge much like touching a car. But then why is my volt stick glowing so brightly as I wave it across the stairs ??
Long story short. They had recently had the staircase installed and vertically straight up from a twin socket was a nice shiny raw bolt plated through the wall. Yep !! nicely clipping the live. Killed the socket circuit no more live staircase. Good example of when you should bond right there. ?

 

[old man sparky]

Another one for you. Called to a 3 storey office block.
DNO needed to modify the substation due to a new fast food install going on line.
So they provided a genny for the block, to keep it going whilst they were powered down.
We arrived with all staff in the car park. And two fire appliances on site.
Long story short. Loose neutral on the genny tap off.
Desk top PCs fried all over the offices, hand driers fried, light fittings fried. You name it, it was fried.
Plenty of extra work for us, but there were some very unhappy people that day.

 

[GBDamo]

I realise these pictures aren't as spectacular as the others but they do show how powerful 230V can be. Plus it's a very real outcome if safe isolation isn't adhered to.

If a L-N or L-E short at 230v can take even a little chunk out of steel alloy, hardened with vanadium, then I hate to think what it would do to a persons hand/arm holding a pair of non VDE pliers.

These are my (now spare) side cutters after I cut through a live cable some years ago (whilst my mind was busy elsewhere, thinking about a difficult relationship with a gorgeous yet crazy woman.). We must keep our minds on the job!

View attachment 84131 View attachment 84132

I have a similar pair of strippers.

I was cutting a slot in an existing piece of YT2 to put new drop in. The trunking was just above head height running horizontally. I had pulled the two 2.5s out but there was a run of 1.5 T&E in the bottom, laid so flat was not visible until you got up level with it.

 

[Teddy Lop]

Another one for you. Called to a 3 storey office block.
DNO needed to modify the substation due to a new fast food install going on line.
So they provided a genny for the block, to keep it going whilst they were powered down.
We arrived with all staff in the car park. And two fire appliances on site.
Long story short. Loose neutral on the genny tap off.
Desk top PCs fried all over the offices, hand driers fried, light fittings fried. You name it, it was fried.
Plenty of extra work for us, but there were some very unhappy people that day.

Had one like that on the leccy board way back when, we were providing gensets for the mains when they had shutdowns - was a 1000 whatever kva genset feeding an entire estate and the pillocks didn't realise the neutral cable was in two parts, boom can we have several hundred new VCRs please

 

[Mike Johnson]

Two fan heaters on one double socket, need I say more, smell of fish gave it away.

 

[Dartlec]

Two fan heaters on one double socket, need I say more, smell of fish gave it away.View attachment 85309

Is that a socket with push fit connectors?

 

[littlespark]

Is that a socket with push fit connectors?

Yes... I think I can see a “legrand” badge moulded into the back of it.

 

[Dartlec]

Yes... I think I can see a “legrand” badge moulded into the back of it.

Interesting - didn't think anyone made one and assumed maybe the standard required screwed terminals. Though the terminals didn't help in this case apparently, but can't really blame them if you put 26A through it...

Not going to catch on unless there are 3 terminals per socket though.

 

[littlespark]

Interesting - didn't think anyone made one and assumed maybe the standard required screwed terminals. Though the terminals didn't help in this case apparently, but can't really blame them if you put 26A through it...

Not going to catch on unless there are 3 terminals per socket though.

or 4, for the DIY market

 

[Mike Johnson]

It's a standard Legrand dual socket the small finger points above the push in connectors are to relive the push fit and allow the cable to be retracted, it did have three connectors at some point. ? Its a French standard fitting.

 

[RenatSha]

How much power was connected to this outlet? 3 kW?

 

[ipf]

its not bullying.... its ignoring the health and safety procedures that have been put there to protect you and your workmates.

to put the poor lad into danger knowingly could lead to claims of historical abuse. I'd watch your back if i were you.

Theyre catching all sorts of historical misdemeanors nowadays from racism and sexism... so i wouldnt be surprised if apprentice baiting became the next big thing?

Who're you trying to kid, short ---??

 

[Mike Johnson]

How much power was connected to this outlet? 3 kW?

No idea, but the house was three phase and only 20amps/phase, 20amp MCB on a row of six others all covered by an RCD.

 

[littlespark]

Who're you trying to kid, short ---??

“Little”spark is nothing to do with my height, Tiny

 

[GBDamo]

“Little”spark is nothing to do with my height, Tiny

Too easy, I'm out.

 

[ipf]

“Little”spark is nothing to do with my height, Tiny

Bully for you! ?

 

[littlespark]

Bully for you! ?

You started it!

is a short --- a little donkey, little donkey on a dusty road??

?

 

[ipf]

You started it!

is a short --- a little donkey, little donkey on a dusty road??

?

Started what???
Obviously hit the wrong button there, didn't I?
It was just a joke, having a go at folk picking on folk and bullying. If you can't get that.... then I'm sorry.
Enough. Good night.

 

[ipf]

Too easy, I'm out.

Well spotted. ?

 

[David Prosser]

Loose connection

 

[Rockingit]

Loose connection

View attachment 85950View attachment 85951

......where's the slot?

 

[SparkySy]

Is that 3 phases through 3 separate holes in the metal baseplate?

 

[David Prosser]

Is that 3 phases through 3 separate holes in the metal baseplate?

It's not a metal base.

 

[SparkySy]

Ah that's ok then! Must be my old eyes?

 

[brianmoooore]

Ah that's ok then! Must be my old eyes?

Not just yours, my eyes saw the same.

 

[Dartlec]

Just threw these out during a clear out - only time I ran into melting MCBs on a job, some years ago now.

From memory it was a loose terminal on the busbar so installation not manufacturer's fault, though did put me off the 'cheaper' brands for a good while...

 

[dodger421]

I’ve posted it before but this is what happens when you put 230V through a 110V coil. The coil voltage was applied whenever the machine control was on, so it would easily be sitting at the over voltage for 8 to 10 hours a day. I think it lasted three days before failing.

Physically the contactor looked fine, but you couldn’t manually push the contacts together like you should be able to.

Always always always check the coil voltage as well as the contactor rating, don’t just rummage around the parts cupboard for something that looks similar!

 

[RenatSha]

No idea, but the house was three phase and only 20amps/phase, 20amp MCB on a row of six others all covered by an RCD.

There was a poor connection in this outlet. The clamps in the outlet are loose. The contact has warmed up and the socket has melted!