lightening just hit my house and electric box

[jim1]

dont know if this is the right section, i just had lightening hit my house and sparks flew out of my electric box, the crazy thing is is that everything is still working??? i am worried something could still be short cuircited or something, do i need to call an electrician or is it ok because everything is still working, thanks.

 

[johnstantine]

Hi.
I'm not an expert on lightning but, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have an electrician check things over just in case there's been any damage to your earthing arrangements or something else that might not show up immediately. The fact that you said sparks came out of your 'electric box' suggests to me it would certainly be worth at least a look. I'm interested to here what other opinions there are on this.

 

[jim1]

Hi.
I'm not an expert on lightning but, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have an electrician check things over just in case there's been any damage to your earthing arrangements or something else that might not show up immediately. The fact that you said sparks came out of your 'electric box' suggests to me it would certainly be worth at least a look. I'm interested to here what other opinions there are on this.

Thanks for the reply johnstantine, i live in rented accomodation and trying to get hold of my landlord is a nightmare but hopefully i can get hold of him tonight, i was thinking sought of the same thing like something might not show up immediately because i am so shocked no damage was done, thanks again for the reply

i have a pme system if that makes any difference, hopless with this stuff lol, still cant believe nothing blew

 

[Darkwood]

Most definately get someone out asap as it could have wiped your earthing system and if you have other damage to the wiring it may put you at risk, im assuming your house insurance will foot the bill for any damage and subsequent repairs.

 

[jim1]

Most definately get someone out asap as it could have wiped your earthing system and if you have other damage to the wiring it may put you at risk, im assuming your house insurance will foot the bill for any damage and subsequent repairs.

thanks darkwood, would i know if it wiped out my earthing system and what does that mean, aint got a clue about electrics, i live in rented accom and cant get hold of my landlord so dont know what to do. thanks for the reply.

thanks darkwood, would i know if it wiped out my earthing system and what does that mean, aint got a clue about electrics, i live in rented accom and cant get hold of my landlord so dont know what to do. thanks for the reply.

also i have a protective multiple earthing system dont know if that makes any difference, i have been using all electrical stuff fine since it happened.

 

[Darkwood]

The earthing system is what creates a safe earth path for any fault currents that may occur basically its what diverts any electrical fault away from potentially injuring or killing you, and in doing so hopefully operates the fuse. Without it and the chance that the lighning could have created a fault condition you could be at risk. The Protective Multiple Earthing is the nature of the supply cable comming into the house from the road and isnt a concern in this instant.

 

[jim1]

The earthing system is what creates a safe earth path for any fault currents that may occur basically its what diverts any electrical fault away from potentially injuring or killing you, and in doing so hopefully operates the fuse. Without it and the chance that the lighning could have created a fault condition you could be at risk. The Protective Multiple Earthing is the nature of the supply cable comming into the house from the road and isnt a concern in this instant.

thanks darkwood, im pretty much stuck for now, cant get hold of my landlord, he goes abroad for months on end dnt know weather 2 take my chances or just turn all the electricity off but i dont know how long that would have to be for.

 

[Darkwood]

thanks darkwood, im pretty much stuck for now, cant get hold of my landlord, he goes abroad for months on end dnt know weather 2 take my chances or just turn all the electricity off but i dont know how long that would have to be for.

Pay for a sparkie to check it out just to be safe keep the bill and knock it off his rent, tell him all the power went out and you had no alternative, im sure if hes a decent landlord he wont have a problem with what you had to do.

 

[jim1]

Pay for a sparkie to check it out just to be safe keep the bill and knock it off his rent, tell him all the power went out and you had no alternative, im sure if hes a decent landlord he wont have a problem with what you had to do.

good thinking, i will give that a crack i think, cheers man, i rang swalec cause they fitted the box and i just got this idiot kid who found it quite funny that lightening had hit and treated me like i was neurotic or sumthin, then he said if nothing went off then everything is fine, gotta love swalec NOT!

 

[daniel hill]

hell u was lucky to get a swalec guy out that fast
bless em i work for the good side of that company n well we sharnt go there

 

[jim1]

hell u was lucky to get a swalec guy out that fast
bless em i work for the good side of that company n well we sharnt go there

hi daniel , he didnt come out i just spoke 2 him on the phone, seemed 2 think it was funny for sum reason lol?

 

[acvc]

Hi Johnstantine.

I would say that you urgently need to have the whole installation re-tested and certified to assess the condition of all circuits and accessories, and as Darkwood says, how they relate to the earth fault path. You could have faults in place just waiting for you to find them. A full Electrical Installation Certificate is what you require from the spark you get in.

Sounds like you're in a tricky situation with essential safety work needed and an absent landlord. But it's your safety at stake, and the landlord's contractual responsibility to provide that safety. I know it's easy to say, but if it it were me, I wouldn't hesitate in getting the electrics re-tested, repaired if necessary, and ask the electrician to invoice the landlord.

Please be very careful. Unplug everything that you're not using, take extra care in bathroom, kitchen, wet locations.

 

[piperm]

Where do u live?? i'll get my company to give u a quote if ur near-ish to come out and have a look at whats going on...

 

[jim1]

thanks for the replys guys, i had a friend of the family who is an electrition come over and he took the box off and couldnt see anything wrong, then he put a plug in the sockets in the walls and each 1 tripped out like it was ment to or something? confuses me lol.

 

[xraytek]

thanks for the replys guys, i had a friend of the family who is an electrition come over and he took the box off and couldnt see anything wrong, then he put a plug in the sockets in the walls and each 1 tripped out like it was ment to or something? confuses me lol.

He should have also checked Ze.
You originally said the supply was PME, so if the earth has been lost (and therefore the neutral too) then the neutral may be finding an alternate path through the main bonding if that makes sense.

At least I think thats possible anyway if the C was lost from the TN-C-S