Fire!

D Skelton · Apr 29, 2012

Had an intersting call out today from a woman who said she's getting sparks, smoke and the smell of burning from her consumer unit!

I said that I was happy to come out, however if you've got smoke and can smell burning, you need to call the fire brigade as a matter of urgency!

I turned up as the fire brigade were just about to leave. They had pulled the main fuse and just told the customer that this is all they'd do and from then on, it's up to your electrician to sort out.

So off came the front of the CU and this is what I found!

Needless to say, there was bugger all I could do for her today. Gonna go back to fit a new CU in a different location once she's consulted her surveyor and had someone round to assess and repair the cause of this monstrosity!

Just thought I'd stick these pics up as they make for scary viewing IMHO

Edit: Of course the power is still off! I lent them an extention lead as they're good friends with the neighbours. At least they can boil a kettle for the next few days.

Guest123 · Apr 29, 2012

Nice!!

What was it sitting above/below???

D Skelton · Apr 29, 2012

Below a corroded soil pipe. Outside was evidence of a huge amount of water ingress through the outside layer of the cavity wall. The cables had obviously picked up the water within the cavity and lead it stright into the CU.

It smelt disgusting too!!!

A pooey CU!!!

Darkwood · Apr 29, 2012

Is it in an out-house or something it looks like condensation of many years judging by the copper oxide and the obvious moisture issue.

D Skelton · Apr 29, 2012

No, it was in the basement of the house. It wasn't condensation I can assure you. The bottom of the CU and the busbar cover were completely flooded!

Darkwood · Apr 29, 2012

Ah sorry you answered my question before i sent post but yes agree i wouldnt be licking your fingers after removing that C.U. :ack2:

D Skelton · Apr 29, 2012

Really?! How else was I supposed to clean me' fingers?!

Guest111 · Apr 29, 2012

Oh well it,s nice to know it,s not only me that gets the ****** jobs then!:smile5:

Strima · Apr 29, 2012

Reminds me of when we lived in Lyneham, many moons ago, had our neighbour banging on the door around midnight. Her husband was in Afghanistan and I thought she was desperate...

Their backboiler had gone bang a couple of days before so the MOD estate manager had given her a couple electric heaters to keep her and the kids warm. One of hubbys mates had heard about her predicament and grab a couple more from work so in total she had six of these, less than modern, electric heaters burning away.

Anyway after several hours the 3036 were still holding strong, not a glimmer of giving up in the age old British Bulldog spirit, less could be said the the bakolite CU that had decided to catch fire...

So I went round with a torch in my teeth to have a look, I'll never forget it, not the smell of burning but the mountain of kids toys in the cupboard under the stairs that were covering the smouldering CU. Luckily I managed to get access to the suppliers fuse and pull it, not very strong seals on that one...

Called the helpline, after calling Trumpton, and a sparky from MHS was out within 20 minutes, that was a record in itself. He then started to have a go at me for pulling the fuse until Fireman Sam tapped him on the shoulder and had a quiet word in his ear...

It was a fun night to be had by all. Not so much for her over the next couple of weeks as the house was rewired and new GFCH system was put in, they didn't even but them up anywhere whilst the work was ongoing.

Mark P · Apr 29, 2012

I trust the fireman called EDF to pull the fuse!!!!

Amp David · Apr 29, 2012

Just going to say that myself.

I wonder if hey had a discussion between themselves on weather to do it or not. :devil:

GLENNSPARK · Apr 29, 2012

Strima said:
Reminds me of when we lived in Lyneham, many moons ago, had our neighbour banging on the door around midnight. Her husband was in Afghanistan and I thought she was desperate...

Their backboiler had gone bang a couple of days before so the MOD estate manager had given her a couple electric heaters to keep her and the kids warm. One of hubbys mates had heard about her predicament and grab a couple more from work so in total she had six of these, less than modern, electric heaters burning away.

Anyway after several hours the 3036 were still holding strong, not a glimmer of giving up in the age old British Bulldog spirit, less could be said the the bakolite CU that had decided to catch fire...

So I went round with a torch in my teeth to have a look, I'll never forget it, not the smell of burning but the mountain of kids toys in the cupboard under the stairs that were covering the smouldering CU. Luckily I managed to get access to the suppliers fuse and pull it, not very strong seals on that one...

Called the helpline, after calling Trumpton, and a sparky from MHS was out within 20 minutes, that was a record in itself. He then started to have a go at me for pulling the fuse until Fireman Sam tapped him on the shoulder and had a quiet word in his ear...

It was a fun night to be had by all. Not so much for her over the next couple of weeks as the house was rewired and new GFCH system was put in, they didn't even but them up anywhere whilst the work was ongoing.

similar setup at a house down in shrewsbury i rewired back in 2007....that had a mixture of bakelite fuseboxes n add on C/Us that used to whiff badly whenever you started loadin em up....leccy fires n stuff...lol....loads of lead n VIR in there n all.....lol...