RCCB tripped, saved a few lives this morning

Calahonda52

Sparks replaced first 3 pieces

SCOOP 64

That looks severe ,what was running off it?

standardg60

Jaysus, were you charging the car off that or something?

Calahonda52

7 kW for the car, 8 hrs Charger limits the draw so fuse was weak link

kirk.

It's common enough fuse might have been not tightened

What's the RCD trip got to do with it

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119803581#Comment_119803581

Based on your previous unhelpful posts here in relation to different posts of mine I refuse to engage with you.

Its certainly not this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGpFcHTxjZs

The Continental Op

I'm with kirk in this one don't see what the RDDB has got to do with it? Its not an over current device as far as I know.

Looks like the fuse got very hot and burnt and out the two devices either side of it.

Sleeper12

I think it's the fact that the RDDB tripped that alerted Calahonda52 to the potential fire hazard

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805488#Comment_119805488

But the fuse is burnt out? You can't see the "tell" that goes when it blows - the bit in the middle. If I heated up an RCCB I'd be fairly sure it would trip eventually. The car charger would have only be drawing 32 Amps leave another 30 Amps for the house.

If the fuse didn't blow then even more reason it probably overheated.

meercat

an electric shower was in operation when this happened

From safe electric

Neozed fuses if not tightened fully are subject to overheating and “Thermal Runaway”, particularly when supplying High Current loads. We would recommend that these fuses are replaced with 63- amp MCBs when adding any High Current addition to any installation.

kirk.

It's a well known issue with the neozed fuses seen it loads of times

Not sure on the RCD trip maybe it was the heat or someone else knows on that

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805647#Comment_119805647

I’d imagine it tripped because of the heat alright. Luckily it did because I’d say the op went to check the distribution board

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805644#Comment_119805644

That's a great photo. I like how the powder adds a ghostly feel to it.

So that looks like it had gone from being 'exothermic' to being in flame and shows why new CU boxes need to be metal rather than self-extinguishing plastic. Lucky catch before the plywood and chipboard backing board fully caught.

"Neozed Fuses - D0 fuse-links are used as the most reliable protection of electrical installation, control and signal circuits against overload and short-circuit currents." 😂

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805741#Comment_119805741

Luckily the householder had a powder fire extinguisher (and knew how to use it)

another shower fire(shower in operation) and the householder had a fire extinguisher but didn’t know how to use it. Neighbour’s came in and did

kirk.

..

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805912#Comment_119805912

This second one wasn't caused by the neozed fuse, right? Was it loose wiring on the double-pole MCB?

And are these inspected by a safety body after the event or does a REC submit a report, or how does that side of things work?

kirk.

Loose connections on shower rcbo by the look of it

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119807403#Comment_119807403

Spot on

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119807388#Comment_119807388

Loose conditions alright. No there’s nowhere to report issues. Electric showers are notorious for issues such as this. Either in the pull cord or distribution board itself

kirk.

Holiday homes were notorious for neozed fuse issues

Electric showers is mostly poor installs , isolators badly fitted and shower terminals loose

Loose connections is mostly handymen

iwillhtfu

I'm curious how no one smelt that long before it burn't out. This was all to common when fuse boards were mounted on chip board and covered in wooden boxes and sometimes under the stairs.😱 House fires are a lot less common than they use to be although they're making a resurgence with chinese batteries and USB charging leads.

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119808129#Comment_119808129

Ya that's the irony

Standards and safety improved meanwhile cheap electronic junk creating a hazard

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119808129#Comment_119808129

the one with the burnt out main switch was in a seldom used garage and went unnoticed

the one with the burnt rcd was noticed over a few weeks. The householder thought next door were smoking “weird tobacco” and was using a scented candle to mask the smell !!!!!

iwillhtfu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119808239#Comment_119808239

They must've had some amount of candles on the go the smell is rank.

kirk.

The first pic was probably the neozed switch fuse there was a recall on, the slide in push up type

I used to change them a lot when I was a REC stopped bothering after a while

Nobody was willing to pay for the work so it came down to informing the householder , electrical wholesalers would just give u a replacement

kirk.

Neozed are tricky to tighten that's part of the problem

Flinty997

I've a had few problems with a shower.

Is there no Rolls Royce of connections that's gives you better connections, so these problems don't happen.

Last time I got the bathroom with the electric shower done it was suggested moving it to isolator off the fuse board.

Or is the case that these switches failing is the way this works?

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119808350#Comment_119808350

It's quite common for terminals not to be tightened , not so much by sparks usually plumbers and DIY

The neozed fuses often need an extra twist too very commonly not tightened

Some disagree but best just to leave shower isolators on and they won't give much trouble , as seen from the pics the fire hazard is when the shower is in use

kirk.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119808350#Comment_119808350

I know what you're talking about there a contactor at the fuse board controlled by a switch at bathroom

Been discussed before but doesn't comply with wiring rules as you're not isolating supply to shower locally

Flinty997

Sorry there is a isolator at the shower.

At the fuse board the trip is moved off the main board.

All the shower switches I've had a problem with were fitted by electricians. Do they come loose over time or something.

kirk.

They give trouble regardless of who fits them mostly the cheaper ones

Crabtree I was fitting when I was a REC a quality isolator

monseiur

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805644#Comment_119805644

Me thinks a good smoke alarm just above board would be a good idea and/or a fire rated complete casing unit including back board.

kirk.

The boards are metallic now

The neozed has been a bit of a disaster, instantaneous showers and all-electric apartments and car chargers all came in lately round the same time as neozed appeared which didn't help plus they do be loose in the holder not tightened

meercat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119845634#Comment_119845634

It’s not a requirement for metallic distribution boards.there was discussions but it was never implemented

kirk.

My bad I'm not a rec these days