Today ended with a bang!

[ETradesmen]

Hey there, I don't normally post much on here but am always browsing through this forum as the topics are somewhat interesting.

Anyway, as per the title. I managed to end todays work with a BOOM!

I have been working on a complete refurbishment on a old 1920's terraced house. The property has a dedicated resin supply cable feeding a single phase meter which then feeds a consumer unit. After stripping out all the cables throughout the property only leaving a temporary socket, you would assume every cable in the house is dead, right? WRONG!!

Today I had to ease of a sheet of wood that the electrical cutout/meter was fixed to so that the plasterer could dry line/plaster the wall behind it. That was easy. He then came back to me and asked if this other cable sticking out of the wall also dead?, I went back to the cupboard to discover an old 6mm lead cable poking through the wall with the end taped up. I told the plasterer "Of course its dead, the only cables in this building that are live are the temporary sockets". As i finished the sentence I was already halfway though cutting the cable. Then BOOM!!!!!! The sound of a £30 pair side cutters turning to ash along with some fireworks for added effect.

After scratching my head and wondering how the hell the old cable could still be live I then ventured into next doors property...

After opening her electrical cupboard and letting out the smoke I had created, I spotted the old LEAD cable going into the suppliers side of her old cast iron fused live/neutral cut out. The funny thing is was that her house was still on so the smoke in the cupboard must of been the old lead cable turning to ash!!

I told the lady that she needs to call the electrical provider and for them to send out an engineer ASAP.

Ive never seen this is 16 years of my electrical profession, but apparently this is how properties were supplied pre 1950's.

The funny thing is that the neighbours electrical intake had a new meter and consumer yet noone had pointed this out to her!!

What a great way to end a weeks work

Mike

 

[ruston]

I came across an understairs cupboard light a few years ago wired in bell wire, and the feed was from a light switch just external to the cupboard - no neutral in there though, it was live and earth - straight into the metal wall box terminal.
All of this wiring was hidden behind boarding in the cupboard and I only found it when doing a CU change - switching this light on caused instant RCD tripping as you can imagine. :cowboy:

In some of the mining houses it was common to see loads of additions done in 'shot wire'

 

[Leesparkykent]

I've once found a cylinder stat wired in Telephone cable.....bet it was a plumber lol.

 

[VoltzElectrical]

As I mentioned, safe isolation just because you think its dead doesnt mean it is. Surely any competant electrician knows this?

competent.

 

[Dave OCD]

I've once found a cylinder stat wired in Telephone cable.....bet it was a plumber lol.

Or a BT engineer ? :biggrin5:

 

[ImpededLoop]

Fair play to the OP for sharing his experience. Stories like this serve as a good reminder to most of us not to become complacent.

 

[Plonker 3]

competent.

Maybe one day you will be able to offer advice rather than pick on those that are dyslexic?

 

[Darkwood]

Reminder ... anyone offended by any post then use the report button ..do not react please!

Can we continue the thread without the slating thank you

 

[telectrix]

once went to a customer to refit an alarm contact to a new pvc front door. the fitters had done a lovely job and had fitted a nice shiny brass doorbell push button. unfortunately, the 50 year old doorbell was 240V, so when i pressed the push button, the brass button connected with the fixed 240V contact. OUCH.

 

[ETradesmen]

Just a quick update, power gen UK went to the property feeding both houses and had to evacuate the property.

Regards,

Mike

 

[Leesparkykent]

Just a quick update, power gen UK went to the property feeding both houses and had to evacuate the property.

Regards,

Mike

Blimey! How come?

 

[Dave OCD]

Somebody let off an evil one in the understairs cupboard :tongue3:

 

[ruston]

Somebody let off an evil one in the understairs cupboard :tongue3:

Someone switched Strictly on and saw J Vine.

 

[Darkwood]

It's because the supply was still live in a partially cut cable that had blown the fault clear... any vibration could have blown it ... front end fusing may be very high ampage ... hence my earlier comment he's lucky no one was hurt and more so he's not in hospital... cutting through a DNO cable at close range with zero PPE doesn't usually end well.

 

[Kamikaze]

DaveOCD’s explanation sounds more plausible. Since hydrogen sulfide and mercaptan gas is highly volatile, power gens decision to evacuate the property appears prudent. :nuke:

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Dillb.....If you can honestly say you have never ever balls-ed up with a live cable that you assumed was dead I would be very,very surprised. I have...loads of times. It's quite correct to talk about safe isolation and all that but in the real world I'll wager there's not an electrician who's been around a while who hasn't got it wrong at least once.

3 days ago I spent the night with a beautiful woman who I have been getting to know for a couple of months. We slept in the same bed so I thought 'eh up things are looking good'. Unfortunately sleeping and chatting were the only things that were permitted, along with the information that not much else would happen until we were married!!!!!:frown2:

The next morning I cut through a live wire as my mind was a long, long way away from were it should have been! :6: