Smoke coming from electric meter/fuse box area

[A14n]

Hi just a question, this morning I noticed a 2 gang socket had no power to it, went to check the fuse box/electric meter in the cupboard... and there was a lot of smoke coming out from somewhere? Its not smoking any more. The 2 way gang socket is completely dead. All other outlets seem fine and not affected.

What would be the problem? Is this an expensive job, still waiting to here back from an electrician.

Thanks

 

[Specialist]

I wouldn't have been starting testing at 6.00pm never mind the change out, but that's just personal preference.

 

[telectrix]

i'd have made the damaged cable /circuit safe for the night. made sure the fish tank had a reliable supply, then gone back in the morning to tackle the CU.

 

[Specialist]

Don't quite understand why the "Electrician" that went there in the first place, had to get someone else in to do the CU, or how the 2nd "Electrician" walked away & left faulty wiring.

 

[Specialist]

Never come across a Danson CU before, are they any good ?.

 

[A14n]

Electrician is coming again tonight to do the landing light. He's now pressurising us into getting a total rewire... Is this really necessary? Doesn't seem like he's tested it or anything. He wasn't even aware that the other 2 gang socket died after fixing the one that wasn't working initially...

 

[A14n]

Don't quite understand why the "Electrician" that went there in the first place, had to get someone else in to do the CU, or how the 2nd "Electrician" walked away & left faulty wiring.

The guy that came originally said he'd been in a motorcycle accident and shouldn't really be up and about as he was still on morphine :/. So got the other "electrician" to come and do the work...

 

[telectrix]

alarm bells ! time to get a second opinion from an electrician who will test the installation before advising on whether a rewire is necessary. if the cables are all pvc and not rubber insulated, then a rewire is probably not needed.

 

[A14n]

alarm bells ! time to get a second opinion from an electrician who will test the installation before advising on whether a rewire is necessary. if the cables are all pvc and not rubber insulated, then a rewire is probably not needed.

Well behind the light switches the cable is grey pvc Red/Black

 

[onions1066]

Looks like the second spark was on morphine as well. So why would he change the board then advise a rewire. School boy error getting balls deep in a board swap then thinking oh s**t this needs rewiring. And that's why you test first...........what a doughnut

 

[Pete999]

Electrician is coming again tonight to do the landing light. He's now pressurising us into getting a total rewire... Is this really necessary? Doesn't seem like he's tested it or anything. He wasn't even aware that the other 2 gang socket died after fixing the one that wasn't working initially...

This "Electrician" is he qualified, or someone from down the pub, sounds like a bit of a liability to me, only my opinion from what's been said.

 

[onions1066]

Okay I haven't read all the way back but for me the burning question is...............how much did it cost?

 

[telectrix]

Well behind the light switches the cable is grey pvc Red/Black

as i said. time to get a proper test/inspection carried out. faults identified and corrected. advising a rewire as he has done is like scrapping your car because the exhaust fell off. GET IT TESTED.

 

[Specialist]

Electrician is coming again tonight to do the landing light. He's now pressurising us into getting a total rewire... Is this really necessary? Doesn't seem like he's tested it or anything. He wasn't even aware that the other 2 gang socket died after fixing the one that wasn't working initially...

Without actually being on site to do an EICR or even see what you already have, it's really difficult to tell for certain.
However with the apparent age of the electrics and the problems you've been having, it may well be the best idea for long term safety.

 

[Specialist]

Okay I haven't read all the way back but for me the burning question is...............how much did it cost?

CU change was apparently £550.00

 

[A14n]

This is the kind of wiring behind one light switch. Is that really old and unsafe?