Is this bad?

[Burt_elliot]

I was doing a board change and the main neutral was to short to reach the terminal, I had a little bit of 25mm tails but had nothing to join it with so as a quick fix I joined the cable with a 63 amp mcb tucked at the bottom of the board and was going to replace it the next day? Do you think that would be ok or what would you have done in that situation?

 

[telectrix]

as long as it's only a temp. to get the power on. maybe extend the tail/s with henley blocks.

 

[sparks_114]

Connector block perhaps? With board changes one has to be careful and be kitted out, crimps, tails, sleeving, etc should all ideally be available. Given your situation I might've done the same if it was paramount for power to get back up.

 

[Burt_elliot]

Cheers chaps, it's just some people at work keep on abusing me because of it. But like you say it was only a temp because the hospital needed the power back on sharpish. I'm glad other people would of done the same in that situation

 

[RWJ]

I did a similar thing last week

Old Federal Electric Board, 32a MCB supplying all sockets to the Restaurant Kitchen gave up....
It tripped as soon as you reset it... Thought it was a problem on the circuit, but it did it with no power and with no circuits connected.

I couldn't get hold of any MCB's to fit the "stab lock" system so wired in a hager 32a and laid it in the bottom of the board.

Only issue is if the MCB trips it means a callout to reset.

 

[telectrix]

any temporary quick fix to get power back on is OK as long as it is SAFE, and only temp. IMO

 

[Bradzz]

Tune for you
YouTube - ‪masterchef synesthesia‬‏

 

[sparkinlee]

I agree that any safe temporary fix is OK. However, if I've understood you right you've connected the main neutral tail through a single pole MCB... if that MCB were to trip (which I guess is unlikely as it's rated at 63A) it would leave the live tail connected, and so you'd have an installation which appeared to be off (not-functioning) but live throughout - even the neutral bar in the CU would become live - so I'd question whether this is safe.

I'm very happy to be corrected if I've misunderstood!

 

[Burt_elliot]

Umm..... well that did happen but it was only because work sent me to a different job the the next week and I forgot about it, but would it be ok if I had fixed it the next day?

 

[Deleted member 26818]

You're bad, very bad.

 

[sparks_114]

One thing I notice in the electrical trade is that there is at times a conflict between trouble shooting (keeping the service going, not setting things straight) and inspection and testing (everything's got to be correct). Yes you managed to keep the power going but of course with a solution that is far from perfect. Often sparks argue around here on topics which are essentially to do with safety versus practicality. Classic ones being those that involve the DNO gear. I totally missed the fact that the MCB was on the neutral conductor, thanks sparkinlee for pointing it out. In honesty I think I would've done anything (withing reason) to keep it going other than that.

 

[RWJ]

I was doing a board change and the main neutral was to short to reach the terminal

I totally missed the fact that the MCB was on the neutral conductor

Me too!!

With that in mind I think a rated connector block would have been more suitable


I WOULD LIKE TO ADD... The MCB I talked about in my previous post was on the Line / Phase / Live side... Just replacing the MCB that wouldn't stay closed

 

[Burt_elliot]

Umm..... well that did happen but it was only because work sent me to a different job the the next week and I forgot about it, but would it be ok if I had fixed it the next day?

 

[sparks_114]

Umm..... well that did happen but it was only because work sent me to a different job the the next week and I forgot about it, but would it be ok if I had fixed it the next day?

I would say no. Too risky.

 

[Paul.M]

I'd say its ok for a temporary fix so you can shoot down to the wholesalers and pick up a henly connector, anything longer than that is a no no in my book.