Callout to arcing supplier fuse

[Pat H]

Had a callout on Saturday. Customer had lost power in the night and now had a burning smell and a crackling sound from the "black lump at the top of the supply cable"
They'd called another company who quoted £72 for a 30 min visit to investigate but couldn't say when in the day they could attend.
No other advice given.
The customers father knew me and was concerned so called me.
I told them over the phone it was likely a failure in the DNO feed or fuse and to turn off the CU main isolator till I got there. I also advised it was unlikely I could do much if it was before their meter.
When I arrived it was clear the DNO fuse had overheated. Cool by now.
Noted with customer that no seals present on the DNO fuse so I pulled it.
Incoming fuse holder blade socket was duscoloured and burnt. Fuse blade equally damaged.
Suspecting incoming cable screws loose I tightened and sure enough well loose.
It was clear a new fuse holder assembly needed and thats a DNO job.
Family had a baby in the house. So I cleaned up the fuse holder best I could and reversed the fuse holder and re-inserted.
Ensured no high current devices on. (Immersion kettle cooker shower) and re engaged supply.
Advised customer to only use lights and fridge freezer to keep load low and to monitor fuse for any issues.
At that point fuse holding ok.
Called DNO on their dangerous electrical fault line. Explained situation and requirement for priority callout as baby in house.
Left customer and heard from them a few hours later to say all sorted and ok now and no other cost to them beyond my callout fee that was much less than the £72 they'd been quoted.

Anything different others here would have done?
If you'd had a spare DNO fuse holder would you have used that (socket badly damaged so of limited help)

 

[FatAlan]

The other tack to take would be to call splash and crash, due to the fire risk as it could be considered too dangerous / depending on proximity, to switch the CU off. I'm sure they'd get the DNO out pretty quick.

 

[Pat H]

I will admit to laying it on a bit thick to the DNO when I called. I did say I didn't think it would catch fire but who knows...

 

[FatAlan]

Too right. If it's their domain.

 

[7029 dave]

Had a callout on Saturday. Customer had lost power in the night and now had a burning smell and a crackling sound from the "black lump at the top of the supply cable"
They'd called another company who quoted £72 for a 30 min visit to investigate but couldn't say when in the day they could attend.
No other advice given.
The customers father knew me and was concerned so called me.
I told them over the phone it was likely a failure in the DNO feed or fuse and to turn off the CU main isolator till I got there. I also advised it was unlikely I could do much if it was before their meter.
When I arrived it was clear the DNO fuse had overheated. Cool by now.
Noted with customer that no seals present on the DNO fuse so I pulled it.
Incoming fuse holder blade socket was duscoloured and burnt. Fuse blade equally damaged.
Suspecting incoming cable screws loose I tightened and sure enough well loose.
It was clear a new fuse holder assembly needed and thats a DNO job.
Family had a baby in the house. So I cleaned up the fuse holder best I could and reversed the fuse holder and re-inserted.
Ensured no high current devices on. (Immersion kettle cooker shower) and re engaged supply.
Advised customer to only use lights and fridge freezer to keep load low and to monitor fuse for any issues.
At that point fuse holding ok.
Called DNO on their dangerous electrical fault line. Explained situation and requirement for priority callout as baby in house.
Left customer and heard from them a few hours later to say all sorted and ok now and no other cost to them beyond my callout fee that was much less than the £72 they'd been quoted.

Anything different others here would have done?
If you'd had a spare DNO fuse holder would you have used that (socket badly damaged so of limited help)

IMO you went over and above, good for you, got the fault located and dealt with.

 

[dez0178]

Had a callout on Saturday. Customer had lost power in the night and now had a burning smell and a crackling sound from the "black lump at the top of the supply cable"
They'd called another company who quoted £72 for a 30 min visit to investigate but couldn't say when in the day they could attend.
No other advice given.
The customers father knew me and was concerned so called me.
I told them over the phone it was likely a failure in the DNO feed or fuse and to turn off the CU main isolator till I got there. I also advised it was unlikely I could do much if it was before their meter.
When I arrived it was clear the DNO fuse had overheated. Cool by now.
Noted with customer that no seals present on the DNO fuse so I pulled it.
Incoming fuse holder blade socket was duscoloured and burnt. Fuse blade equally damaged.
Suspecting incoming cable screws loose I tightened and sure enough well loose.
It was clear a new fuse holder assembly needed and thats a DNO job.
Family had a baby in the house. So I cleaned up the fuse holder best I could and reversed the fuse holder and re-inserted.
Ensured no high current devices on. (Immersion kettle cooker shower) and re engaged supply.
Advised customer to only use lights and fridge freezer to keep load low and to monitor fuse for any issues.
At that point fuse holding ok.
Called DNO on their dangerous electrical fault line. Explained situation and requirement for priority callout as baby in house.
Left customer and heard from them a few hours later to say all sorted and ok now and no other cost to them beyond my callout fee that was much less than the £72 they'd been quoted.

Anything different others here would have done?
If you'd had a spare DNO fuse holder would you have used that (socket badly damaged so of limited help)

Spot on mate! Been to one similar a couple of years ago. Surprisingly working for the board, when doing cut out changes, it is amazing to find a 40 amp fuse present in the cut out.