Lighting problem Melted Cable

[hosepipe]

Hello, Called out to look at lighting problem in a house, found a section of cable in loft looking melted, see photos. Anyone know what's caused the cable to melt, don't think its over loaded as its only got 7 lights on it, doesn't look burnt to me. Was thinking it may have come into contact with chemicals?

 

[Marvo]

Looks like overheating. Is the cable sheath rigid and crispy?

 

[chris gray]

Looks like it could be manufacturering issue

 

[Toneyz]

What type of insulation was it in contact with?

 

[Wilko]

I have seen cable cooked in insulation right next to 50W 12V lamps and transformers, but your pic looks too long a run of heat affected area, implying the conductor really was overloaded. Can you confirm the cable insulation now gone hard and brittle? Or has the cable insulation turned soft and soggy?

 

[Bellendian]

Any new looking soldered pipes nearby?!

 

[Toneyz]

Any new looking soldered pipes nearby?!

Not wet pants again!

 

[haj]

Hello, Called out to look at lighting problem in a house, found a section of cable in loft looking melted, see photos. Anyone know what's caused the cable to melt, don't think its over loaded as its only got 7 lights on it, doesn't look burnt to me. Was thinking it may have come into contact with chemicals?

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I have a similar job

 

[Rpa07]

What size cable is the @haj - is it lighting? Looks like overcurrent but that is severe!

I have a similar job

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[hosepipe]

Yes its from a lighting circuit 1mm T&E cable. It had usual loft insulation over it. I didn't think it was over loaded as its not got black burn marks, it is sort of crispy but is still a little flexible. Looks like two cables melted together, when trying to separate them the plastic sort of tears away from the copper, it is stiff but not crumbly as I would normally expect from a cooked cable.

 

[haj]

What size cable is the @haj - is it lighting? Looks like overcurrent but that is severe!

It’s 1.5 twin melted with some singles some signs of rat activity on some areas

 

[DPG]

It’s 1.5 twin melted with some singles some signs of rat activity on some areas

Did the rats have blow torches and solder? Sorry, meant to be funny that.

 

[Percyprod]

Has there ever been a loss of neutral on the supply to the property? Working for Dno if there was a three phase system feeding a street for example, and the neutral was lost then this can happen, in fact it is one of the worst problems, as all properties on the circuit have to be disconected and inspected, although with modern 1000 volt cables this shouldn't happen.

 

[UKMeterman]

Is it a TT property? If there is a N-E fault on the light fitting and a L-E fault elsewhere on the property guess where the fault current goes...