Had an interesting call last night

[Spazz]

I priced up a CU change only 2 months ago from old BS3036 rewirable to a new 17th Ed board.
I quoted £250 (now £325)

He never came back to me - I had a call last night at 9pm - he came back from Tesco to find his electric cupboard in flames! I tolded him to pull the main fuse and get on the phone to 999 - I arrived to find Fire Brigade there putting the fire out.

When I went in with the fire inspector we found a new 17th ed board - B&Q £50 job.
No stickers, no nothing!

Asked the home owner who installed it? - no answer
Did you install it? - Yes

When we pulled what was left of the cover off - we found that the main L&N had fused together (dont know why the main fuse didn't break)

Fire Officer has now refured this to LABC.


I think he has learned not to do the job himself!

The scary thing is we also found out last night that he has also installed a few more CUs around the place for family members - GOOD LUCK

 

[Plonker 3]

So the meter is not next to the main fuse?

Strange set up that, I always thought DNOs kept there equipment together.

 

[Spazz]

Sometimes

This house has a glass brick to show the meter reading, it is only 1 meter away from the main fuse, but in the same cupboard as the CU.
The Main fuse is on the wall outside - I have seen this a few times around here on the newer houses - dont know why they do it mind

 

[baazab]

sorry my friend i think this is a story 'how can N&L CONNECTED 2gather,for a day then fire after? is ther a time delay built in the consumer unit

 

[jase]

Hmmm.....not sure I entirely agree with that. If I had a customer on the phone reporting an electrical fire, under the circumstances of not being able to see with my own eyes, I reckon I would give them very similar advice. It's ultimately what the fuse is there for - remove the source of energy.

wouldnt they have to have a pair of sidecutters to cut the seal? and then they would be in trouble with DNO

 

[Spazz]

The L&N where not directly connected - they where fused because the main switch was melted enough for the installation to melt exposing the 2 terminals - at a guess heat melted it and then fused - again not a clue what happened with main DNO fuse - why it didn't blow.

 

[alarm man]

The L&N where not directly connected - they where fused because the main switch was melted enough for the installation to melt exposing the 2 terminals - at a guess heat melted it and then fused - again not a clue what happened with main DNO fuse - why it didn't blow.

coz the customer pulled it..

 

[Spazz]

wouldnt they have to have a pair of sidecutters to cut the seal? and then they would be in trouble with DNO

I doubt the DNO will care in an emergency situation.

As said before when you pull these fuses the seal will usually break or will break the lugs off the casing - again what would you rather?

 

[Plonker 3]

Get myself and anyone else in immediate danger as far away as possible in the first instance. I thought you were ex St Johns Nic so surely no to remove as much risk as possible from a area first and foremost?

 

[Spazz]

coz the customer pulled it..

it takes more than the 5s trip time for the customer to pull the fuse from seeing the smoke/etc

I can only guess that there was some insulation between L&N and enough to keep a resistance there to stop 100A+ going through the fuse - only a guess

 

[Plonker 3]

So surely if the insulation of the cable has failed you have informed the seller of this and asked them to look into it?

 

[Spazz]

Get myself and anyone else in immediate danger as far away as possible in the first instance. I thought you were ex St Johns Nic so surely no to remove as much risk as possible from a area first and foremost?

Yes I was St John - Electrical Fire - procedure - remove supply if possible and safe to do so - supply fuse outside! - Fire/heat/smoke inside - no danger
Call 999 and get help

As said above endless times - I dont think it actually caught fire - just alot of heat and smoke -impression of fire.

I have had a quiet few months so when he called I knew where his CU was in house and where the DNO head was

 

[baazab]

best thing is to wait for the full report from the dno

 

[Plonker 3]

Yes I was St John - Electrical Fire - procedure - remove supply if possible and safe to do so - supply fuse outside! - Fire/heat/smoke inside - no danger
Call 999 and get help

As said above endless times - I dont think it actually caught fire - just alot of heat and smoke -impression of fire.

I have had a quiet few months so when he called I knew where his CU was in house and where the DNO head was

2 of the 3 signs of fire of which both are more likely to kill yo than flames themselves, which you deemed a untrained person to go near and do something illegal rather than get away and leave for a highly trained professional to deal with?

 

[Spazz]

So surely if the insulation of the cable has failed you have informed the seller of this and asked them to look into it?

Im an going to call this a night!
The insulation between the L&N terminal had melted there is no cable insulation around these terminals - you pull this back!
A fault happened in the CU (at a guess) because of something the homeowner did wrong - could be not tightening screws or anything! - heat melts plastic! the plastic was the insulation on the main switch between the L&N terminals.

Relook at it and go to bed - your probably getting tired like I am!

 

[Spazz]

best thing is to wait for the full report from the dno

DNO been out and installed an isolator and re-installed fuse with seals.

They are aware