Cut-Out Fire Responsibility

[DogDays]

OK, so we’ve recently had solar with battery installed so all house electrics have recently been checked and certified. At the end-of our solar install we also had National Grid replace the cut so that everything was fully up to date and compliant with current regulations. 3 weeks later the new cut-out has caught fire and damaged our property.

Interestingly with having solar/battery we have app monitoring of our electrical system, so can demonstrate that there was and had been zero load on the system at the time of ignition.

We are currently progressing this with our insurance company - does any have advise if we should take further action…..and if so who with and how. Any advice helpful.

 

[littlespark]

There couldn’t be absolutely zero load.

TVs on standby, fridges, freezers, PC”s chargers etc….
Even if the solar is exporting, then just as much load could be leaving the property than would normally come in.


It is very difficult to ascertain faults after a fire. Any loose connections are now impossible to identify.
If it’s beyond no doubt the fire started at the cutout, then that must be the obvious cause, and where to place the blame.

 

[snowhead]

Leave it to your insurers, if they think National Grid have any liability then they will pursue that with them.
Presumably the cut out has been replaced again?
Has the incoming cable to the cut out been altered / replaced on either N-G visit?

 

[DogDays]

There couldn’t be absolutely zero load.

TVs on standby, fridges, freezers, PC”s chargers etc….
Even if the solar is exporting, then just as much load could be leaving the property than would normally come in.


It is very difficult to ascertain faults after a fire. Any loose connections are now impossible to identify.
If it’s beyond no doubt the fire started at the cutout, then that must be the obvious cause, and where to place the blame.

we we running on battery (self sufficient mode) for around 1.5 hrs prior to the fire.

 

[freddo]

It would be odd to get much heating on a loose connection if there was little to no current flowing through the loose connection. That graph does seem to show 0 though. I wouldn't expect a brand new cutout to track over L to N either. Do you have a photo of the cutout?

 

[DogDays]

There’s not a lot to show - there’s not a great deal left of it.!
Luckily I was able to put the fire out myself fairly quickly so damage to property isn’t extensive - still not happy that it happened in the first place tho and is costing a lot to repair.

 

[Brother Blue]

It appears that the seat if the fire is within the cable chamber below the cutout and not actually in the cutout, in which case it is very much within the DNOs equipment.

Presumably you called the fire brigade and they have given their own report on this?

 

[freddo]

Old PILS cable insulation breakdown?