I have just been called out when client noticed smoke comming from 2g socket. Thinking this would be more or less straight forward to identify fault and rectify, I advised client to immediately turn off consumer unit and rushed to job in case of fire hazzard. On site, even with consumer unit off, smoke was still pooring from the socket.
Tested socket was dead and removed it to find the smoke was comming up the conduit from the basement where the main cutout was directly below. Once in the basement I found the main incomming cable was to two cutout fuses. One had tails 16mm to Henley block and supplied two upstairs flats each with own 16mm tails and consumer units. The other also had 16mm tails to a henley block which then supplied two downstairs properties each with its own consumer unit.
On sight of cutout both line tails out of each cutout fuse were glowing red with orange sparks falling from them and sheathing burning and melting.
I immediately did my best to isolate all four consumer units so no current was being drawn and called Fire service and YEDL. Smoke was very soon too bad to be able to see. Evacuted building and waited for fire service.
After all sorted and several hours later with power off to whole street, the cutout was replaced with new and new 16mm tails.
YEDL chap said cause probably main supply cable needs upgrading as too big a demand in building for existing. Is this likely as they have just put things as they were but just new parts and tails. So could same thing just happen again. ???
Tested socket was dead and removed it to find the smoke was comming up the conduit from the basement where the main cutout was directly below. Once in the basement I found the main incomming cable was to two cutout fuses. One had tails 16mm to Henley block and supplied two upstairs flats each with own 16mm tails and consumer units. The other also had 16mm tails to a henley block which then supplied two downstairs properties each with its own consumer unit.
On sight of cutout both line tails out of each cutout fuse were glowing red with orange sparks falling from them and sheathing burning and melting.
I immediately did my best to isolate all four consumer units so no current was being drawn and called Fire service and YEDL. Smoke was very soon too bad to be able to see. Evacuted building and waited for fire service.
After all sorted and several hours later with power off to whole street, the cutout was replaced with new and new 16mm tails.
YEDL chap said cause probably main supply cable needs upgrading as too big a demand in building for existing. Is this likely as they have just put things as they were but just new parts and tails. So could same thing just happen again. ???
