The Dates Set For The Get Together Pt Deux 2015

[Phil Beckley]

Hey Ron
Feel for you and the family on this. Hope all works out as soon as possible.
rg
Phil

 

[sancho57]

Things are starting to get sorted for us. The wife and kids are calming after the shock of it  and so am I.

This should be behind us shortly and we can move back home.

 

[Slartibartfass]

Glad recovery operation is moving along and family is feeling better.

I might be back to the UK in July or September.... Best, Malte

 

[richy3333]

Hi Ron.
Sorry to hear about the fire. Glad to see everyone is ok. What was the cause of it?

 

[sancho57]

Thanks Richie, the electrician said it was a loose connection on the main switch on the consumer unit.

Things are coming along so hopefully we'll be back in the house in a couple of days

 

[richy3333]

Sorry to hear that mate. UK wiring Regs changed again last January, partly due to exactly the problem you have encountered. Main cause of loose connections being work done by unregistered sparkies. UK governance sucks. If I can help, even if only with advice just PM me.

 

[tbellemare]

What wire was used, Ron?

Around here, they used a lot of aluminum and copper clad aluminum for a while. A whole lot of it was terminated wrong and resulted in flames.

Tom

 

[richy3333]

Copper is generally used in the UK. The main switches on consumer units (think you call them panels) have one retaining/clamping screw these days. Older switches had 2 screws. A fire brigade and industry investigation has found that screws are not being tightened tight enough, combined with irregular inspection and testing not highlighting the fact. It's a bigger can of worms than that in reality but that's the essence of the problem.

 

[Ed Bray]

Sorry to hear of your issues. Hope all is well with you soon.

It's quite surprising how often once tight electrical terminals come loose. We have an annual inspection at all our treatment works and they use a thermal camera to identify even slight hot spots in a panel. In almost 100% of the identified issues they relate to terminals that have begun to get loose just through use and the on/off current draw. All terminals are then tightened and the following year there are similar issues, some on the same panels/terminals and some on others.

 

[John Bates]

Exactly why torque limiting screwdrivers like those from Bondhus and Felo are becoming used more regularly. I think the reg's were making the recommendation a rule but not 100% sure.
Commiserations by the way, glad no one was hurt

 

[sancho57]

Sorry to hear that mate. UK wiring Regs changed again last January, partly due to exactly the problem you have encountered. Main cause of loose connections being work done by unregistered sparkies. UK governance sucks. If I can help, even if only with advice just PM me.

Thanks for the offer, the landlord hired a guy, he seemed pretty good. I stopped and check his work out , he pretty much did what I wood of done.
Man I hate renting

 

[sancho57]

Glad recovery operation is moving along and family is feeling better.

I might be back to the UK in July or September.... Best, Malte

Please let me know and we can hook up.

 

[sancho57]

Cleaning lady came today , did a crap job, the decorator just arrived hopefully will do a decent job patching and painting..

Hope this gets sorted and passes the wife's inspection, I miss hanging out in the garage playing with my tools