Very Strange

[Happyneiller]

Called to a fault, customer reported burning smell and an orange glow at consumer unit.

The board was rewireable fuses. I inserted the offending fuse and noticed that the wire in the fuse was glowing orange. I took the fuse out and examined it. The fuse wire was the correct size - but was staying intact (had been glowing for 4hrs). I then replaced the fuse wire with my own fusewire and the circuit was fine.

I examined the fuse wire which the house holder had purchased from a well known retailer. The 5A fuse wire was unbreakable by hand and seemed more like guitar string. All types 5,15,30A all seemed to be the same. Looks like dodgy fusewire.

Has anyone else had the same experience. This could have caused a fire if the householder had not been in.

 

[Rockingit]

Suggest you take a sample to trading standards!!

 

[a1guvner]

i had heard they are going to introduce trace heating to dist boards

 

[Marvo]

Did you check the current draw on the circuit? Could possibly have been a bad batch of wire, there should be an easily noticable difference in diameter between a 5 Amp and 30 Amp fuse wire.

If it were me I would drive past the shop and pick up a few packets and run a manual test to see if it's a sub-standard product. If it is I would e-mail the shop and let them know.

 

[oldtimer]

Marvo is right did you check the current drawn from the circuit plus even if you ar not sure then replace the fusewire also you do have an amp probe I take it and if not a good one will cost £50 but Screwflux had one for £8 if you do not have one then all of this is pure speculation

 

[Specialist]

Surprising how many Electricians still don't own or use a Clamp Meter, personally find them very handy.

 

[hermetic]

Unbreakable by hand? Sounds like steel to me, have you tried it on a magnet?, glowing but not melting, could it be Monel, or similar resistance wire? This is a seroius problem, and needs intervention by trading standards, the shop probably doesnt know the difference. Dare I say it might be from china?

 

[Specialist]

Called to a fault, customer reported burning smell and an orange glow at consumer unit.

The board was rewireable fuses. I inserted the offending fuse and noticed that the wire in the fuse was glowing orange. I took the fuse out and examined it. The fuse wire was the correct size - but was staying intact (had been glowing for 4hrs). I then replaced the fuse wire with my own fusewire and the circuit was fine.
.

Couple of questions: You say you inserted the Fuse & Noticed it was Glowing Orange but then you say it had been Glowing for 4 hours please explain.

The other question is: Why did the customer replace the Fuse wire in the First place ? take it from your post that it had been recently replaced, otherwise if it was due to duff Fusewire it would have been Glowing / Burning for a while.

 

[needasparks]

Surprising how many Electricians still don't own or use a Clamp Meter, personally find them very handy.

How are they going to know that in 5 weeks ehh !

 

[oldtimer]

Ubreakable by hand and glowing red ok that means there could be a large load on the circuit hence the cables should be hot as well or have I missed something here

 

[needasparks]

Good point !

 

[nickblake]

one thing i would say was it actually fuse wire , over the years i have seen everything from guitar strings to nails ,and its part of the reason ill rip the things out at a drop of a hat as they are open to mis use , how many times has a strand of wire been used with a comment this looks the right size, so a fault or overload may have occoured and with it not being fuse wire may not have blown just glowed causing a potential fire risk especially if it was an old wooden backed board

 

[Specialist]

Ubreakable by hand and glowing red ok that means there could be a large load on the circuit hence the cables should be hot as well or have I missed something here

No mate: Don't think you've missed anything :lol:.Would still like to know why it was replaced though.

 

[Happyneiller]

Right lads here goes

Returned today to investigate. I inserted my trusty 6A wylex mcb and powered the circuit up. Clamp on ammeter reads 3.2A so all is good. Replaced fuse with suspect fuse wire and energised. Again a lovely orange glow, just like the filament in a lamp. Left it for 30secs or so and fuse did not fracture. Still reading 3.2A by the way.

There are 5 lighting circuits and the suspect fuse was tried in all with exactly the same results. Orange glow present.

The suspect fuse wire was replaced by known 'good' fuse wire and all is functioning correctly.

I know that the fuse wire had been glowing for 4 hours as this is when the homeowner changed it due to a light bulb failure.

I called into the 'large retail outlet' and had a look at what was on their shelves and low and behold, it looks like the same unbreakable wire. I called the outlet manager and explained in detail the seriousness of this issue.

Blank looks followed by - " I will contact head office ".

Customer going to trading standards to try to recoup costs.

Hope this all makes sense

 

[Specialist]

Thanks mate: Have to admit it was a bit confusing, hope you educated the customer on the Stupidity of leaving it in & Glowing like that:lol: