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.

 

[needasparks]

Think this retail outlet needs to be named. there's not harm in it.
not so much for the sparks on here as i'm sure we don't buy anything electrical from these places but think of it as a public service.

 

[hermetic]

The way I read this was when he replaced the wire with wire from his tool kit the glow and the fault dissapeared.

 

[hermetic]

ignore my last post, got logged out, and came back out of step

 

[mechelec]

I know someone who used a strand of cutout sealing wire (stainless steel) for fuse wire, it did exactly as you say just sat there glowing happily without melting. It would be interesting to try a magnet on your sample. Some grades of stainless steel can be magnetic.

 

[Golden_Boy]

The way I read this was when he replaced the wire with wire from his tool kit the glow and the fault dissapeared.

For the wire to glow red when carrying that sort of current the resistance must be quite high. Did the OP measure the resistance ( i wonder what it was ) W= I squared R !!!!!

 

[hermetic]

Its stainless, or monel! try testing the resistance of the wire with a MM

 

[Happyneiller]

" You Can Do It "

 

[the pict]

So I cant use my old E strings then, is it still ok to use baco foil in plug tops though,and cellotape on bulgey frayed iron cords, or wire all plugs as class 2
Pict

 

[Golden_Boy]

So I cant use my old E strings then, is it still ok to use baco foil in plug tops though,and cellotape on bulgey frayed iron cords, or wire all plugs as class 2
Pict

My old man ( R.i.p.)used the silver foil from woodbine packets for plug tops. must have saved a mint on fuses.