MAre of a day

[Farmelectrics]

It's been along time since I had nightmare of a day like today, family member asks me to change some sockets and light switches to Crome type so avoid these sockets were the face plate is a push on type from bq no don't shoot me down they were £9 each not cheap but a nightmare to fit as the face plate that should just clip on is not easy. But the day got worse no length in single socket box to terminate pushes socket back and wow and behold ji nick a cable or so I think there is now smoke coming from the Wylex consumer my question is why why hasn't this just blown the fuse. Takes cover of Wylex board makes sure everything is tight which it is re fix socket were cable trapped all ok replace fuses and sit around to make sure all ok. No I haven't tested anything my mft is in work .sorry it's long winded why the smoke ???????? Your thoughts please

 

[stevethesparks]

Yes Walsh I agree I've recommended upgrading consumer wiring looks ok all twin and earth didn't think I needed to bring my mft was only changing face plates

Even if just swapping like for like, I always undertake a continuity test to make sure there is a ring. On several occasions I have found problems, one ring had been completely discon by connectors and left in the back box with blank plate???

 

[Plonker 3]

well after a bad nights sleep lol returned with tester all circuts completly tested and test ok readings all comply with 3036 values
once agin thanks for the advice was a little bit worried if im honest i have recomended a consumer board upgrade. now heres my shot at it and taking into account threads 26 and 27 i think i have trapped a neutral down to earth and its caused a short but not enough to blow fuse strange thing could see no sign of burning or scorching in consumer but maybe the fuse wire was glowing and there was dust possibly hence the smoke ok theres my head above the parapit shoot me!

A N-E fault will not blow a fuse

 

[Farmelectrics]

no i no diib but would it heat up and possibly be the cause of the smoke dust etc im asking cos not 100% but have tested all circuts all ok and everthing in house is working

 

[Farmelectrics]

a n- e fault wouldnt blow a 3036 but would trip an rcd ha ha its the smoke that disturbed me

 

[gnselectricals]

You know your in trouble if the magic smoke has come out of the fuses lol

 

[Bobster]

no i no diib but would it heat up and possibly be the cause of the smoke dust etc im asking cos not 100% but have tested all circuts all ok and everthing in house is working

Please think about this.

 

[dave274]

I thought you'd decided in post eight that it did blow the ocpd and you had just mixed them up on the floor. The heat generated when the fuse blows is great and can cause a little bit of smoke. how much smoke are we talking about here?

 

[Marvo]

A N-E fault will not blow a fuse

Please think about this.

I'm also not sold on the N-E fault theory.

Exactly what tests did you do? Did you check for crosses between circuits? I still think there's something more sinister wrong to cause any considerable amount of smoke at the CU.

 

[Farmelectrics]

I've done full tests all ok ir readings all good zs on ring mains 0.34. 0.36. 0.35. Confirmed rings. All ok. I've trapped some cable in last single socket in utility room but if I'm honest not 100% what fault I've caused but all ok . Going to change consumer at weekend

 

[UKMeterman]

Hi,
Have you checked the Ze of the installation, it could be there is some external fault that could provide a few volts N-E but many amps, when you made the neutral earth fault there could have been a high current that then cooked some wiring.