Main Cut-out fuse missing??

[elvis]

Oooh... doesn't everyone love a horror story!

I'll think about it

 

[Badger]

stooorryyy , stoooorrrrrrrrrrryyyyyy stoooorrrryyyyyyyyyyyy :^O :^O :^O

 

[elvis]

Installing a shower isolator in a very tight cupboard. Am thinking to myself "I am not phoning those pesky Scottish Power ****ers to isolate the mains and I can get them into the main switch terminals live without cutting the seal" (which I did)... (so there!)

However... wrestling with the double insulated cables going into new isolator to try to fit them underneath the existing db lid, I managed to pull both L and N from the terminals inside the new isolator. They don't, of course, just sit harmlessly in fresh air, they short straight across each other with a nice flash and not too loud a bang.

And there you have it... one rather perturbed homeowner (who of course was standing right there) and one rather embarrassed electrician!

You can all sleep easier tonight knowing it happened to someone else!!

?:-\

 

[Apache]

Installing a shower isolator in a very tight cupboard. Am thinking to myself "I am not phoning those pesky Scottish Power ****ers to isolate the mains and I can get them into the main switch terminals live without cutting the seal" (which I did)... (so there!)However... wrestling with the double insulated cables going into new isolator to try to fit them underneath the existing db lid, I managed to pull both L and N from the terminals inside the new isolator. They don't, of course, just sit harmlessly in fresh air, they short straight across each other with a nice flash and not too loud a bang.

And there you have it... one rather perturbed homeowner (who of course was standing right there) and one rather embarrassed electrician!

You can all sleep easier tonight knowing it happened to someone else!!

?:-\

A better way to die than on the toilet ............................

 

[Andy™]

Installing a shower isolator in a very tight cupboard. Am thinking to myself "I am not phoning those pesky Scottish Power ****ers to isolate the mains and I can get them into the main switch terminals live without cutting the seal" (which I did)... (so there!)However... wrestling with the double insulated cables going into new isolator to try to fit them underneath the existing db lid, I managed to pull both L and N from the terminals inside the new isolator. They don't, of course, just sit harmlessly in fresh air, they short straight across each other with a nice flash and not too loud a bang.

And there you have it... one rather perturbed homeowner (who of course was standing right there) and one rather embarrassed electrician!

You can all sleep easier tonight knowing it happened to someone else!!

?:-\

good reason to tape the end...

did it blow the service fuse or just spark/burn your eyes?

 

[elvis]

As far as reinstating the fuse goes, I would definately call the supplier. Don't know about anywhere else but in Scotland they cannot charge you to replace the fuse specifically because it is sealed (meaning your client cannot get a competitive quote to replace it.) I was informed of this by a Scottish Power emergency call out electrician just before Christmas when I managed to blow a main fuse at a property I was working on... don't ask!!

Blew the fuse, don't work with live mains too often but had a look at the main switch terminals and the space in the board and I knew I could get the cables in. Wasn't anticipating pulling them out at the other end when I was trying to get the cover back on though.

Interestingly, I'm sure we all give our cables a wee waggle (oo,err missus) then get a wee extra pinch on them but with newer cb's and main switches you can only get so much before the casing starts to split.

Not making excuses, shouldn't be working live but you definately can't get terminations as tight in these boxes now before the head of the terminal screw busts or the casing starts to warp...

 

[Andy™]

i normally use pliers and straighten the cores. seems to fit better into the terminals. holding the sides together also stops it from parting as easily when tightening

 

[elvis]

Yup, all of the above... but should we need to?

Better quality terminal screws, tougher casings??

 

[Andy™]

Yup, all of the above... but should we need to? Better quality terminal screws, tougher casings??

but that would cost more

but then again, wouldnt that have cost the same?! - i dont remember the prices suddenly dropping when they lowered the quality!

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

yes i was going post the same specs :^O

I was going to say..

Great minds...........................

but then remembered I don't have a great mind like you Badge! :x :x

 

[SPECIAL LOCATION]

Blew the fuse, don't work with live mains too often but had a look at the main switch terminals and the space in the board and I knew I could get the cables in. Wasn't anticipating pulling them out at the other end when I was trying to get the cover back on though.Interestingly, I'm sure we all give our cables a wee waggle (oo,err missus) then get a wee extra pinch on them but with newer cb's and main switches you can only get so much before the casing starts to split.

Not making excuses, shouldn't be working live but you definately can't get terminations as tight in these boxes now before the head of the terminal screw busts or the casing starts to warp...

yep inclined to say yes to care when tightening!

 

[elvis]

I always say the better we get at manufacturing things, the worse the things we manufacture become.

Things are made with such a tiny margin for error now. If you take a look at some of the older switchgear you come across and, but for changes in the regs, some of it would last forever.

 

[septiclecky]

I'm a Welshman.......Who mentoned sheep?

ADMIN's got the sheep worried now he's said he's Welsh:^O:^O:^O:^O