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Julie.

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BANG! DSC_0535.JPG - EletriciansForums.net

Oops.

Neighbour at the door early hours (04:00 ish)

Sparks and flame from cu.

Somewhat panicked!

By the time I got around there, the main fuse had gone, most damage to the spd, but full of arc residue on the rcbos around it.

Managed to save most of the board, but need new rcbo x 4 and the spd itself - at least I think it's not well!

Got most of it sorted in time, spen just round and replaced fuse, so some circuits back up now.

Rushed home to check my spd - all fine, so assume we are on different phases.
 
So the point is S.P.D is to protect the installation and the property from supply overvoltage that may cause damage and or fires.

I think where an S.P.D is fitted it needs to be within a fireproof enclosure, not just a metallic one and it also needs another device in circuit, as yet to be named, designed to protect the S.P.D. which may also have to be contained.

Given that relatively few will have been fitted, if that's the only one that's failed, which I doubt then thats a very high failure rate.

I think Hager may be interested in that one.
 
Bloody hell is a hagger spud has well so remind me not to one of those ones in, any way was the cheeses and beans done has well. Lol
 
Just been to collect and fit the RCBOs, and I am not sure I have been given the full story!

I stripped it down somewhat more, and there is a sticky substance all over the wires and parts of the internals - I assume something has been spilt from the shelf above recently - now I have been able to see it in the light of day!

Very soapy - the more I wash my hands the more soap suds I get!

Couldn't get a new SPD so I have them back up and running now, and told them to get an electrician in now there's no urgency, much prefer keeping warm in an office rather than being called out at stupid time!


I usually specify Hager, and actually have the same in my house, but never had any reports of this before, although I note the design has changed slightly - the window in this one (and at home) is a tiny square to the right, the new ones appear to have a much bigger window (from the photos on-line)
 
Doh! Of course we assumed this was an isolated electrical fault and not the result of pouring gloop over the thing!

Should have though given the number of photos of CUs we see on there forums with bottles of stuff stored on top...
 
I wonder if they now recall hearing any fizzling and popping or any smells over recent days from that cupboard
 
There're not in at the moment, but will ask - don't want to get too tied into it as you just end up doing all their jobs and I don't actually install any more except for special occasions.

It worries me though, I think they paid big money for this job, and yet the guy couldn't even get the cable in correctly - I thought it had just burnt away - but as the second photo shows, the burnt cable wasn't actually tightened - the clamp is fully closed - with no remnants of cable left - so basically he pushed the cable end in behind the clamp!

then I assumed he tightened the clamp - missing the wire completely - must be 2-3 years ago!
 
That's not that uncommon with the clamp.
I used to do Commercial and have found many cables not in clamps over the years, most with no ill effects.
The problem is caused by assuming the clamp is fully open when new and not opening the clamp fully before inserting the cable.
However it should always fail the Tug test.
 
Couldn't get a new SPD so I have them back up and running now, and told them to get an electrician in now there's no urgency, much prefer keeping warm in an office rather than being called out at stupid time!
what is your part time work getting up the crack of dawn a milkman part time spark ,while I'm hear puts some toast on .lol.
 
I've seen a few SPDs that have operated due to surges, mainly atmospheric. None have looked like that.

As you have indicated it looks like a combination of poor installation and external 'gloop' causing the flash over.

I would be tempted to inform the DNO as a precaution to see if they have any record of surges and possibly send the SPD back to the manufacturer for analysis.
 

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