Can you smell fish?

[electromonkey]

Seasons greetings one and all.

Could anyone tell me what the fishy smell is that comes from termination points on some circuits I have encountered. Every now and again I come across this and it is almost always on a shower circuit. My guess is that the cable is being heated up and warming it's insulation which in turn reacts by secreting something like oil that stinks of fish. Am I even close with this theory? If it is the case, is it also an indication the the resistance within the cable may be breaking down?

Cheers

Monkey

 

[Rockingit]

Oh, the fun to be had with this one...... :rolleyes2:

 

[a1guvner]

Personal hygiene did spring to mind, but hey, is it old wiring devices you refer to or new, if it is old would prob be signs of a loose/overloaded connection or faulty device.

 

[polo1]

Oh, the fun to be had with this one...... :rolleyes2:

:yesnod:

 

[electromonkey]

I thought it was the kind of question the deserved plenty of innuendo!

 

[Silly Sausage]

I thought it was the kind of question the deserved plenty of innuendo!

I'm restraining myself seeing as I'm on an Electricians Forum ASBO... :35:

 

[Marvo]

I know the smell you're talking about and it's caused by overheating of plastic. If you smell it in a CU or DB panel it's almost always a sign of a poor termination that's getting hot.

I guess the easy thing to do is use one of those Flir cameras if you have access to one.

 

[electromonkey]

I've just phoned my customer and she said that after she had a shower this morning, there was a very strong smell of fish downstairs. I nearly laughed down the phone. Do you think it's an electrician she needs or a doctor?

 

[electromonkey]

I know the smell you're talking about and it's caused by overheating of plastic. If you smell it in a CU or DB panel it's almost always a sign of a poor termination that's getting hot.

I guess the easy thing to do is use one of those Flir cameras if you have access to one.

I just tried to thank you but it doesn't work! So I'll say it instead. Thank you Marvo.

 

[keniff]

normally hot bakelite i think it is. stinks i know!! as marvo said poor or loose termination. had this on sockets and main switches etc all the time

 

[GLENNSPARK]

reminds me of the time when a house of my mothers had an old bakelite dis board....before i rewired the lot for her of course...a lot of vir n lead in there n all..anyway....they would insist on running about 3 of those 3 bar fires off ov it...the old ones......wasn`t long before that room stank of cooking bakelite.....i had to suggest to them that it wasn`t up to it....damn board would get hot to the touch n all......

 

[Rockingit]

Is the installation in Grimsby?

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Is the installation in Grimsby?

if it was rockin you would be able to whiff it through the PC mate....it really is that bad there..lol.........

 

[Rockingit]

I've been there many times mate, that's how I know!

Although my favourite memory of the plaice (get it?!) has got to be the site of three young lasses, naked, strapped across the bonnets of their 'boyfriends' cars and waiting for a certain band to exit the stage door... They stank of fish as well.

 

[sparky3366]

I've been there many times mate, that's how I know!

Although my favourite memory of the plaice (get it?!) has got to be the site of three young lasses, naked, strapped across the bonnets of their 'boyfriends' cars and waiting for a certain band to exit the stage door... They stank of fish as well.

I wondered why the shadows split up...