fuseboard on fire

chopperxbox · Mar 9, 2013

I've got a fuse board that had a fuse start smoking and melting. It was an old rewireable one. The person said it always goes and they rewire it but this time it didn't go just started to melt. It's a lighting circuit. I took the melted fuse and cable out then remade off the end and put it away but haven't put the fuse back till I know the problem. I didn't check if the connection was loose in the board and now I have remade it won't know if that was the problem. The circuit seems to have a lot on it as in 10 halogen spots, 2x3 bulb lights and 2 other single lights. My questions are. (1) is the circuit just overloaded? (2) was it a loose connection at the board. (3) would a loose connection some where else in the circuit cause the burning at the board. Constructive answers only please, none of that "look it up" trolling nonsense. Many thanks.

worzol99 · Mar 9, 2013

I think some testing is needed here with the information that has been given

odawire · Mar 9, 2013

yea, I would do a thorough test of the circuit (doesn't sound too overloaded) and if that checks out ok (probably wont if they say it trips a lot) assume a loose connection but definitely would not put the rewireable back in , replace with an mcb.

decolad69 · Mar 9, 2013

chopperxbox said:
I've got a fuse board that had a fuse start smoking and melting. It was an old rewireable one. The person said it always goes and they rewire it but this time it didn't go just started to melt. It's a lighting circuit. I took the melted fuse and cable out then remade off the end and put it away but haven't put the fuse back till I know the problem. I didn't check if the connection was loose in the board and now I have remade it won't know if that was the problem. The circuit seems to have a lot on it as in 10 halogen spots, 2x3 bulb lights and 2 other single lights. My questions are. (1) is the circuit just overloaded? (2) was it a loose connection at the board. (3) would a loose connection some where else in the circuit cause the burning at the board. Constructive answers only please, none of that "look it up" trolling nonsense. Many thanks.

Easy! You need to call a qualified electrician who will test and identify the cause of the problem. As you requested - no nonsense answer.

Kind regards,

Decolad 69

telectrix · Mar 9, 2013

remove all lamps and IR test all conductors to each other with switches in the closed position.

Sintra · Mar 9, 2013

What is the total wattage of lamps?

Darkwood · Mar 9, 2013

If as you say high excessive temperatures have occured then the metal shaped grips that hold the fuse blades will have suffered metal fatique and could have lost integrity which may promote further issues once the original cause has been established and corrected....

In your case either the incorrect fuse wire fitted allowing oerheating of the termination or loose connection if the fuse was correct either way you shouldn't re-use this way and as the board is over 30yrs old you should really be considering upgrading the board ... modern boards have more advance sensing devices that protect your family alot better.

I would as already suggested get a competent Electrician in to advice ...can you throw a few pic up so we can see the condition of the board and possibly highlight other concerns.

My guess here is original loose wire welded the cable into terminal and fatique the metal thus causing a what seems physically solid but is in fact a poor connection, repeated changing of the fuse wire has allowed it to progressively get worse until its starts smoking and melting... regardless of the load if the fuse wire is correct size then it shouldn't get hot with overload but the fuse wire itself should melt ...now as this is not the case and the holder and termination has overheated then the way in the board is no longer usable and should be blanked off.

chopperxbox · Mar 9, 2013

I'm going to change the board but was hoping to get a few ideas before hand. Ill have to do an ir test on the circuit but was hoping to avoid checking every connection on every fitting as the halogens look like they have been in and out a few times so didn't want to risk making the ceiling worse. I'm gutted I forgot to check if the connection was loose in the board before I re made it. I think the halogens are about 50w each x10 and 8 more 60w bulbs so the 1.5 t+e circuit should be fine. It's a friend of my partners so no real money in it, only me working for sweet fa again. Thanks for everyone's input.

GLENNSPARK · Mar 9, 2013

i think maybe someones been using incorrect fusewire....because there was a `fault`....lol..

TaffyDuck · Mar 10, 2013

GLENNSPARK said:
i think maybe someones been using incorrect fusewire....because there was a `fault`....lol..

Sounds familiar, I found a door key wedged in one once because "everything else blew" and that set fire to the board, wrecked the whole thing and somehow didnt set fire to the house. God knows how.

MDJ · Mar 10, 2013

chopperxbox said:
I'm going to change the board but was hoping to get a few ideas before hand. Ill have to do an ir test on the circuit but was hoping to avoid checking every connection on every fitting as the halogens look like they have been in and out a few times so didn't want to risk making the ceiling worse. I'm gutted I forgot to check if the connection was loose in the board before I re made it. I think the halogens are about 50w each x10 and 8 more 60w bulbs so the 1.5 t+e circuit should be fine. It's a friend of my partners so no real money in it, only me working for sweet fa again. Thanks for everyone's input.

Bulbs grow in the garden lol