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

 

[Pete999]

Needs sorting ASAP When did you notice the smoke, most likely a loose connection, advice switch OFF everything at the consumers unit (fuse box) and await the sparkie

 

[westward10]

Get someone in ASAP you could have a serious fire risk on your hands. Sounds like a poor connection which has overheated enough to burn the insulation. I would isolate it if possible.

 

[A14n]

Everything from that socket is disconnected. I can't really turn off the power as I have a tropical aquarium. Still awaiting electrician... Noticed the smoke several hours ago now, nothing has happened since.

 

[Pete999]

Everything from that socket is disconnected. I can't really turn off the power as I have a tropical aquarium. Still awaiting electrician... Noticed the smoke several hours ago now, nothing has happened since.

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

 

[Wilko]

Edited
The smoke is toxic, so get plenty of fresh air in. Switch off your isolator so you will be safe until the Electrician arrives.

 

[7029 dave]

As^^^ turn OFF immediately.

 

[onions1066]

Or be prepared and make some batter because if you don't turn off you might need it for the fish.

 

[marc8]

Edited
The smoke is toxic, so get plenty of fresh air in. Switch off your isolator so you will be safe until the Electrician arrives.

don't use an electric fan to blow the smoke away use natural ventilation open windows

Or be prepared and make some batter because if you don't turn off you might need it for the fish.

best get some chips out also they go quite well

 

[Pete999]

don't use an electric fan to blow the smoke away use natural ventilation open windows

best get some chips out also they go quite well

Not the last lot I had.

 

[davesparks]

Everything from that socket is disconnected. I can't really turn off the power as I have a tropical aquarium. Still awaiting electrician... Noticed the smoke several hours ago now, nothing has happened since.

If you turn the power off your fish might die.
If you don't turn the power off it could start a fire, in which your fish die and you loose all of your possessions and potentially could also be seriously injured along with the rest of your family.

 

[Octopus]

Shame the OP hasn't updated us, despite viewing this thread a short while ago......

 

[telectrix]

could it be his smart meter having a crafty smoke while the supplier is out for lunch, not monitoring said smart meter?

 

[Dave OCD]

It's the back up system when it loses internet connection, it reverts to sending smoke signals.

 

[A14n]

Electrician is coming tomorrow morning now :/. Not had any issues so far since the smoke minus the dead sockets!

I also have a landing light that hasn't worked for years, will get him to look at that also. Its on 2x light switches one upstairs and one at the bottom of the stairs... God knows what's wrong with that?

 

[Dave OCD]

That will probably be as simple as a loose connection in one of the switches, anyway your electrician will sort it out and restore your peace of mind hopefully. Let us know the outcome tomorrow.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Electrician is coming tomorrow morning now :/. Not had any issues so far since the smoke minus the dead sockets!

I also have a landing light that hasn't worked for years, will get him to look at that also. Its on 2x light switches one upstairs and one at the bottom of the stairs... God knows what's wrong with that?

Switch off for the night mate, not worth the risk. It's hardly going to drop below 15 degrees tonight, cant see your fish freezing, or run a lead from next door if that's possible.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

As everybody has said turn it off, especially if you got children in the house. too great a risk.

Would be nice if the OP returns and updates us. pictures of the offending article in the CU, if that is the cause would be good to see aswell.
Wonder who fitted the CU and age of install? Surprised we don't hear of more problems like this to be honest, given the serious risks and the number of right shoddy and outright dangerous installs out there i am surprised there are not more house fires. as this was the premise on switching to metal clad CU's.... there is an awful lot of plastic ones out there still.

 

[telectrix]

plastic CUs don't cause fires. bad workmanship causes fires.

 

[7029 dave]

Switch off for the night mate, not worth the risk. It's hardly going to drop below 15 degrees tonight, cant see your fish freezing, or run a lead from next door if that's possible.

Absolutely agree he needs cut the electricity now.

 

[telectrix]

and maybe wrap a blanket round the fish tank. it's bye-byes time for fishes anyway.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

plastic CUs don't cause fires. bad workmanship causes fires.

The problem wasn't plastic Cu's as you said it was people doing a poor job and sometimes not tightening terminals correctly. I was taught on my very first job to use a tension screwdriver set to the right setting. My boss for a right one for the little details.
By switching to metal i believe the idea was it would contain any fire better and give people a chance to notice and get out.

 

[D00DY_T00DY]

The problem wasn't plastic Cu's as you said it was people doing a poor job and sometimes not tightening terminals correctly. I was taught on my very first job to use a tension screwdriver set to the right setting. My boss for a right one for the little details.
By switching to metal i believe the idea was it would contain any fire better and give people a chance to notice and get out.

Talking about this point to two joiners this morning "And what if the new metal cases become live like" "think the loose live would be more worrying then the CU being metal rather than plastic "

Scapegoat for the poor workmanship of self proclaimed "electricians"

 

[A14n]

Electrician had just been, our meter and fuse box etc etc is about 56 years old! and highly dangerous. There was an insulated cable in the back of the old fuse box totally melted and charred up. He's getting someone to fit a new system in and fix the light upstairs while he's at it.

Damn that's soo bad.

 

[telectrix]

cheers for the update. the problem was either a poor connection or that particular cable has been overloaded.

 

[Specialist]

If the Fuse box & meter are that old and dangerous, what about the house wiring ? It's quite possibly well past it's use by date.

 

[telectrix]

agree. a rewire may be in order. an EICR would help.

 

[onions1066]

When I started there was no torque drivers I was told.........when your knuckles go white you know it's tight.

 

[A14n]

Guy is coming about 6pm tonight now and staying until it's done. Charging £550... He didn't say about rewiring the whole house.

 

[onions1066]

This is a troll

 

[telectrix]

i'd imagine he'll be fitting a new CU.to latest regs. a full test of the house wiring is essential , as is dealing with any earthing and bonding issues. make sure you receive an installation certificate (EIC), and assurance of notification to building control. £550 seems about right for the above works.

 

[Specialist]

You really do need to get the wiring checked as well, odds on it's the same age as your fuse box.
Only my opinion but I'd say 6.00pm is a rather unusual time to start a CU change out & then fault finding.

 

[A14n]

Yes he did say we'll get a certificate. As couldn't sell the house the way it is.

 

[Spoon]

This is a troll

But they just live under bridges... and don't need a CU....

 

[Andy78]

Only my opinion but I'd say 6.00pm is a rather unusual time to start a CU change out & then fault finding.

With any luck he'll have finished testing before he turns into a pumpkin.

 

[A14n]

Photos of the ancient CU/meter.

 

[onions1066]

Overhead line by the look of the way it enters. Can't see a main earth either but it could be the falling Greek sunshine affecting my eyes.......hope you lot are enjoying work lol. Makes the 6pm start even more impressive........

 

[A14n]

Yeah it's an overhead power line. I finish work about 1am myself. Wonder if he will be finished by then?

 

[telectrix]

he'd better have a good battery floodlight then.

 

[Octopus]

Most of those cables don't look too old...... wonder why the old CU wasn't changed?

 

[davesparks]

That head looks pretty new, I'd guess the old overheads may have been replaced and a PME system put in their place.

That fuseboard is a genuine antique, I don't think I've ever seen one made by the BI company before (later BICC)

 

[telectrix]

what's wrong with that ancient CU. it's metal, innit?

 

[telectrix]

bottom of bottom pic.are those forearm bones from the last sparks that attended?

 

[A14n]

bottom of bottom pic.are those forearm bones from the last sparks that attended?

Yeah that's correct, he never made it... Talk about skeletons in the closet.

 

[Dave OCD]

It'll be interesting to see how he fits the new CU with the space available and length of cables etc. Honestly not a good idea to start this sort of job at 6pm though !

 

[Specialist]

Most of those cables don't look too old...... wonder why the old CU wasn't changed?

Could be an interesting squeeze.

 

[freddo]

I take it the installer of the teleswitch was aiming for the longest possible cable route! Or do they not work properly the other way around... Those fuseboards are cool, I wish there were more around, there are photos of another one on this forum somewhere.

 

[Andy78]

That head looks pretty new, I'd guess the old overheads may have been replaced and a PME system put in their place.

That fuseboard is a genuine antique, I don't think I've ever seen one made by the BI company before (later BICC)

A google told me that BI and Callendars merged in 1945 !! Would that make this fellas board before that ?


This is the oldest one of this type I have seen before. Got invited to quote for a swap but they decided against it in the end.

 

[freddo]

That's such a neat setup with everything matching!

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

There are people out there that pay good money for old vintage CU's switches etc... there was an autistic bloke at a carboot once with a box full of them. turns out he religiously collects old kit. He pays silly money for some of it too. Thought nothing of paying £50 for a battered old rare switch unit! not seen him since. Have also seen people put them on walls once painted to original finish as decorative items on bare walls. all part of some rustic look!