Last nights callout

[gnselectricals]

Callout by Chippy & plumber both stumped by loss of power to boiler but not really surprised there. Got their to find 2 TV boosters and the boiler spurred off the shower circuit via Un switched fcu directly above the isolator. The iso had become so hot that the plasterciser or whatever was leaching out as there was brown liquid all over the front of it.
Chucked the boiler on lights temporary and told letting agent to sort shower out next week

 

[Darkwood]

The letting agents should have had the electrics inspected prior to renting, I can see how the boosters were missed but how does a sparks testing miss the fact the boiler wasn't on its own circuit or the sockets?... This hi-lights the fact that doing an inspection isn't just about ticking boxes but also about thinking and spotting anything unusual.

 

[gnselectricals]

Tbh it was the ****tiest house I've been in this year and that's electrically not just the decor. Saw about 20 faults by db's, 2bathrooms and sticking my head in attic for 1/2 hr

 

[dean.diy]

must have been crowded in that bathroom with you,the chippy ( what was he there for), the plumber & the tenant gawping.

 

[joehat]

Same but not sure why, no signs off water getting in, yet it's all wet and gunkey inside box ?? Any idea of this, shower and mcb and cable size are all within max, so not sure why this has happened.

 

[Dave OCD]

It's down to the switch contacts overheating initially, sometimes caused by a loose connection, sometimes crappy switch internals not up to the job. Once the process starts the heat spreads up through the conductor and before long gets to the state shown.

 

[gnselectricals]

Same but not sure why, no signs off water getting in, yet it's all wet and gunkey inside box ?? Any idea of this, shower and mcb and cable size are all within max, so not sure why this has happened.

Loose connection mate usually find it prevalent on the neutral connection. Exacerbated due to heavy loading from shower. Think the moisture is due to the plasticisers in the cabling and perhaps switchgear leaching out through heat

 

[joehat]

Thanks, I checked this and it was tight, but now thinking about it, do you rekon it could have melted tight in? It smelt fishy to the customer for days.

 

[joehat]

It was dripping wet no sign behind box of any water so guessing it had be due to melting / overheating ect

 

[gnselectricals]

Yeah the terminals will feel tight even when loose haha as with some other stuff. Best to strip back to bright if there's enough slack in iso. If not a joint or 2 helps I find.

 

[gnselectricals]

Had one job where a mate thought his missus had knocked over or split some baby lotion or similar as he said it smelt lovely. Turned the 10kw oven on and obliterated the main cutout as It had been smouldering all day, I turned up and found I couldn't pull main fuse as it was welded in open circuit. WP changed head as an emergency at 11 on as Sunday night

 

[spark]

Yes usually loose connections . They'll feel tight now because of terminals movement due to expansion helped with a little welding