Smoke coming from electric meter/fuse box area

[A14n]

Hi just a question, this morning I noticed a 2 gang socket had no power to it, went to check the fuse box/electric meter in the cupboard... and there was a lot of smoke coming out from somewhere? Its not smoking any more. The 2 way gang socket is completely dead. All other outlets seem fine and not affected.

What would be the problem? Is this an expensive job, still waiting to here back from an electrician.

Thanks

 

[Specialist]

Hi A14n: Doesn't look too bad from the outside, Wiring could have been a bit tidier. If your still having problems with things not working etc, Please take the advice & get an Electrical installation condition report done ASAP.

 

[Bobster]

Dead testing the circuits should've found the issues stopping the sockets working. Before he re-energised.

 

[Specialist]

Dead testing the circuits should've found the issues stopping the sockets working. Before he re-energised.

Wouldn't mind betting none was done, maybe none after either.

 

[Pete999]

Wouldn't mind bettering none was done, maybe none after either.

Bettering? what have you been Taking Andy?

 

[telectrix]

i hope the silicon tails "grommet " is not an indication of the rest of the work.

 

[David M]

Up to you Mate but what would you rather have a burnt house or live Fish, a no Brainer in my mind switch the juice OFF. Can you smell dead fish no pun intended that's what an electrical fire smells like

That reminds me of when I was a child... in my bed room I would occasionally smell dead fish. We would joke that it was the - fishy ghost - as we never found the cause. After I'd qualified as an electrician I decided to do some alterations in my parents house. It turned out that the elusive "fishy ghost" was indeed caused by a loose connection behind a socket outlet. The socket was only ever used occasionally while it was my room, hence why the "ghost" only appeared occasionally.

We laugh about it now but in seriousness we were extremely lucky, as it could have caused a house fire!

 

[onions1066]

I can't believe tel you was the forest to pick up on that...my question would be...........when are you coming back to finish the board never mind the landing light!

 

[Specialist]

Bettering? what have you been Taking Andy?

Sorted mate thanks, not had meds yet & been up for ages.
Hows things ?

 

[telectrix]

i don't see an inspection label. wonder why?

 

[Specialist]

i hope the silicon tails "grommet " is not an indication of the rest of the work.

Jesus tel: Well spotted, can I borrow your glasses ?

 

[telectrix]

help yersen'

 

[Specialist]

i don't see an inspection label. wonder why?

Did any of us honestly believe one was going to be done ?

 

[Specialist]

View attachment 36842

help yersen'

Works for me mate but was thinking more yer specs

 

[Specialist]

Jesus tel: Well spotted, can I borrow your glasses ?

Guess that screwed the fire containment then.

 

[Andy78]

Did any of us honestly believe one was going to be done ?

I had my doubts about a job starting at 6pm

 

[Specialist]

I wouldn't have been starting testing at 6.00pm never mind the change out, but that's just personal preference.

 

[telectrix]

i'd have made the damaged cable /circuit safe for the night. made sure the fish tank had a reliable supply, then gone back in the morning to tackle the CU.

 

[Specialist]

Don't quite understand why the "Electrician" that went there in the first place, had to get someone else in to do the CU, or how the 2nd "Electrician" walked away & left faulty wiring.

 

[Specialist]

Never come across a Danson CU before, are they any good ?.

 

[A14n]

Electrician is coming again tonight to do the landing light. He's now pressurising us into getting a total rewire... Is this really necessary? Doesn't seem like he's tested it or anything. He wasn't even aware that the other 2 gang socket died after fixing the one that wasn't working initially...

 

[A14n]

Don't quite understand why the "Electrician" that went there in the first place, had to get someone else in to do the CU, or how the 2nd "Electrician" walked away & left faulty wiring.

The guy that came originally said he'd been in a motorcycle accident and shouldn't really be up and about as he was still on morphine :/. So got the other "electrician" to come and do the work...

 

[telectrix]

alarm bells ! time to get a second opinion from an electrician who will test the installation before advising on whether a rewire is necessary. if the cables are all pvc and not rubber insulated, then a rewire is probably not needed.

 

[A14n]

alarm bells ! time to get a second opinion from an electrician who will test the installation before advising on whether a rewire is necessary. if the cables are all pvc and not rubber insulated, then a rewire is probably not needed.

Well behind the light switches the cable is grey pvc Red/Black

 

[onions1066]

Looks like the second spark was on morphine as well. So why would he change the board then advise a rewire. School boy error getting balls deep in a board swap then thinking oh s**t this needs rewiring. And that's why you test first...........what a doughnut

 

[Pete999]

Electrician is coming again tonight to do the landing light. He's now pressurising us into getting a total rewire... Is this really necessary? Doesn't seem like he's tested it or anything. He wasn't even aware that the other 2 gang socket died after fixing the one that wasn't working initially...

This "Electrician" is he qualified, or someone from down the pub, sounds like a bit of a liability to me, only my opinion from what's been said.

 

[onions1066]

Okay I haven't read all the way back but for me the burning question is...............how much did it cost?

 

[telectrix]

Well behind the light switches the cable is grey pvc Red/Black

as i said. time to get a proper test/inspection carried out. faults identified and corrected. advising a rewire as he has done is like scrapping your car because the exhaust fell off. GET IT TESTED.

 

[Specialist]

Electrician is coming again tonight to do the landing light. He's now pressurising us into getting a total rewire... Is this really necessary? Doesn't seem like he's tested it or anything. He wasn't even aware that the other 2 gang socket died after fixing the one that wasn't working initially...

Without actually being on site to do an EICR or even see what you already have, it's really difficult to tell for certain.
However with the apparent age of the electrics and the problems you've been having, it may well be the best idea for long term safety.

 

[Specialist]

Okay I haven't read all the way back but for me the burning question is...............how much did it cost?

CU change was apparently £550.00

 

[A14n]

This is the kind of wiring behind one light switch. Is that really old and unsafe?