 |
|
| UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
| Reply |
|
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
Fusebox burn out.
This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after
getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim -- Please don't feed the trolls |
|
#2
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Tim+ wrote:
This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim A couple more pictures. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...I0kDlJqRD9xrqI https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...LdCEBmhpwfUb8j Tim -- Please don't feed the trolls |
|
#3
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
In article
, Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Something seems to have got hotter than it should. -- from KT24 in Surrey, England "I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle |
|
#4
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Tim+ wrote in
: https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...Q0aV0HaxPCLdCE BmhpwfUb8j In the back of the switch it looks like the terminal screw is tightened onto the insulation.. |
|
#5
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote:
This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A The last MCB on the left is presumably the one lazily added for the car, taking the combined maximum current on that leg to over 120A, ignoring the rating of the previously installed RCD. That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) -- Adrian C |
|
#6
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote:
This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Looks like consistently under-tightened screws, on the consumer unit and the switch. Possibly on insulation as per JohnP's suggestion but good practice is to minimise the amount of bare copper. It's not obvious if he's used 4mm cable? |
|
#7
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Adrian Caspersz wrote:
That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) Its been replaced now and I dont think there are more pictures. Tim -- Please don't feed the trolls |
|
#8
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24 Mar 2021 17:43:56 GMT, Tim+ wrote:
Adrian Caspersz wrote: That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) Its been replaced now and I dont think there are more pictures. By a different electrician I hope? |
|
#9
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote:
This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Loose connections. -- Adam |
|
#10
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Scott wrote:
On 24 Mar 2021 17:43:56 GMT, Tim+ wrote: Adrian Caspersz wrote: That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) Its been replaced now and I dont think there are more pictures. By a different electrician I hope? Nope. Same one (which concerns me!). Tim -- Please don't feed the trolls |
|
#11
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
ARW wrote:
On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Loose connections. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? Tim -- Please don't feed the trolls |
|
#12
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote:
This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Possible loose connections or a stray strand of conductor (or water ingress) to the switch. The damage to the mains switch looks like it was the root cause of the rather hot fusebox components. Was it correctly rated for a continuous 7kW load? -- Regards, Martin Brown |
|
#13
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24 Mar 2021 18:00:31 GMT, Tim+ wrote:
Scott wrote: On 24 Mar 2021 17:43:56 GMT, Tim+ wrote: Adrian Caspersz wrote: That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) It?s been replaced now and I don?t think there are more pictures. By a different electrician I hope? Nope. Same one (which concerns me!). Tim If there is a fire and his insurers find out, there may be awkward questions to answer. |
|
#14
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:07, Tim+ wrote:
ARW wrote: On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Loose connections. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? Most consumer unit manufacturers recommend placing high power circuits close to the switch to minimise length of busbar taking full load current. To minimise generation of heat within the enclosure. |
|
#15
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:00, Tim+ wrote:
Scott wrote: On 24 Mar 2021 17:43:56 GMT, Tim+ wrote: Adrian Caspersz wrote: That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) Its been replaced now and I dont think there are more pictures. By a different electrician I hope? Nope. Same one (which concerns me!). Did you check if he used a torque screwdriver? If he did, and he claim to have used the correct settings, he'll effectively be absolved from blame. |
|
#16
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote:
This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Have all the MCB levers been joined and cable tied in the on position? A total of a possible 120A through a 80A RCD? Screws to bus bar not tighted to the correct torque? -- mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk |
|
#17
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:28, alan_m wrote:
Have all the MCB levers been joined and cable tied in the on position? OK - no. I had just zoomed in and that's what it looked like. -- mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk |
|
#18
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Tim+ wrote:
yy ARW wrote: Loose connections. +1. Not appropriately torqued I would guess. (a common problem with electric showers, which tend to run for a much shorter time) It's possible a load 32A was applied which melted the isolator and cooked the RCD, but I would expect the MCB to trip for that. It could be a faulty or fake MCB I suppose. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? It really depends on how the charger is set up, which we can't see. Chargers can be set to monitor the outputs from the consumer unit and limit the current if another big load like a shower or cooker is in use, so that the maximum current of the supply is not exceeded. Alternatively the electrician can apply diversity to set the charger output to a lower current. I don't know the rating of that busbar, but I'd expect it to carry the full current from the main switch if it were wired that way. So I don't think an 80A RCD next to a 32A MCB should cause any problems (apart from perhaps running warm and gradual cookage over time). Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? It appears to be this one, which is rated at 45A which would be fine for a 32A/7kW single phase supply: https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/prod...e-switch-white and looks like the fault was in the neutral-out side. Theo |
|
#19
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On Wed, 24 Mar 2021 18:27:47 +0000, Fredxx
wrote: On 24/03/2021 18:00, Tim+ wrote: Scott wrote: On 24 Mar 2021 17:43:56 GMT, Tim+ wrote: Adrian Caspersz wrote: That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) It?s been replaced now and I don?t think there are more pictures. By a different electrician I hope? Nope. Same one (which concerns me!). Did you check if he used a torque screwdriver? If he did, and he claim to have used the correct settings, he'll effectively be absolved from blame. Not necessarily. He can claim what he wants but if there is evidence to the contrary the court will look at all the facts and circumstances and determine on the balance of probabilities what actually occurred. |
|
#20
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:07, Tim+ wrote:
Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? I doubt it. It doesn't look 30A capable - you need at least 25A for 7Kw That's a cooker switch or better, and cooker switches don't have to meet continuous load. Id go for a more industrial thing https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-g...itch-63a/8536r and underrate it like fanny. -- There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isnt true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. Soren Kierkegaard |
|
#21
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:45, Scott wrote:
On Wed, 24 Mar 2021 18:27:47 +0000, Fredxx wrote: On 24/03/2021 18:00, Tim+ wrote: Scott wrote: On 24 Mar 2021 17:43:56 GMT, Tim+ wrote: Adrian Caspersz wrote: That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) It?s been replaced now and I don?t think there are more pictures. By a different electrician I hope? Nope. Same one (which concerns me!). Did you check if he used a torque screwdriver? If he did, and he claim to have used the correct settings, he'll effectively be absolved from blame. Not necessarily. He can claim what he wants but if there is evidence to the contrary the court will look at all the facts and circumstances and determine on the balance of probabilities what actually occurred. You are entirely correct, I was thinking from a practical viewpoint. Given the wire is copper and connectors are brass, they have a different thermal expansion coefficient. Even where a terminal is loose following a thermal failure it would still be difficult to apportion blame to the electrician rather than some other failure. If he says he tightened up with his magic screwdriver to the correct torque, how would you prove otherwise. |
|
#22
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 17:36, Adrian Caspersz wrote:
On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A The last MCB on the left is presumably the one lazily added for the car, taking the combined maximum current on that leg to over 120A, ignoring the rating of the previously installed RCD. My thought too. The highest rated MCB's should be closest to the incoming power (so closest to the RCD). I suspect the busbar connected to the RCD was not tight enough too, perhaps because thats where the heat seems to be ?? That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) |
|
#23
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:50, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 24/03/2021 18:07, Tim+ wrote: Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? I doubt it. It doesn't look 30A capable - you need at least 25A for 7Kw The one in the photo has Omega markings and looks like this: https://rpp.uk.com/product/45a-double-pole-switches/ It has a 45A rating, and unless you can convince me otherwise it will be continuously rated. That's a cooker switch or better, and cooker switches don't have to meet continuous load. Can you provide a cite for this? It's not what I would expect. I could of course be wrong. Id go for a more industrial thing https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-g...itch-63a/8536r and underrate it like fanny. Looks OTT to me and intended for 3-phase and neutral, but YMMV. |
|
#24
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:50, The Natural Philosopher wrote:
On 24/03/2021 18:07, Tim+ wrote: Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? I doubt it. It doesn't look 30A capable - you need at least 25A for 7Kw That's a cooker switch or better, and cooker switches don't have to meet continuous load. Id go for a more industrial thing https://www.screwfix.com/p/british-g...itch-63a/8536r and underrate it like fanny. Those look like the isolators used when you have just a 4KW solar panel setup. |
|
#25
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:07, Tim+ wrote:
ARW wrote: On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Loose connections. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? Actually I don't know. I'm not an electrician, just a fool in an armchair posting on the interwebs. For interest what max current are busbars made to handle in a 100A consumer split load unit? That figure, or less? I'm now aware of electricians using torque setting screwdrivers to tighten fusebox screws. Some time ago I had reinstalled a pull cord shower isolator switch (after the builders insecurely screwed it to some laths in the plaster that couldn't take the cord itself being yanked) and saw the terminals had been damaged from heat. I didn't twig anything about lack of screw tightness being the cause. As my fusebox is some rewirable fuse relic from the distant seventies (shower on an ancillary) .... erm, I need to see about all getting replaced sometime. -- Adrian C |
|
#26
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 17:24, Tim+ wrote:
Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim A couple more pictures. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...I0kDlJqRD9xrqI https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...LdCEBmhpwfUb8j Tim Do you need an Amazon Prime account to post these pics ? |
|
#27
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
In article ,
Andrew wrote: On 24/03/2021 17:24, Tim+ wrote: Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim A couple more pictures. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...I0kDlJqRD9xrqI https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...LdCEBmhpwfUb8j This switch was wired so that turning it on shorted live and neutral. -- from KT24 in Surrey, England "I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle |
|
#28
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On Wed, 24 Mar 2021 18:52:40 +0000, Fredxx
wrote: On 24/03/2021 18:45, Scott wrote: On Wed, 24 Mar 2021 18:27:47 +0000, Fredxx wrote: On 24/03/2021 18:00, Tim+ wrote: Scott wrote: On 24 Mar 2021 17:43:56 GMT, Tim+ wrote: Adrian Caspersz wrote: That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) It?s been replaced now and I don?t think there are more pictures. By a different electrician I hope? Nope. Same one (which concerns me!). Did you check if he used a torque screwdriver? If he did, and he claim to have used the correct settings, he'll effectively be absolved from blame. Not necessarily. He can claim what he wants but if there is evidence to the contrary the court will look at all the facts and circumstances and determine on the balance of probabilities what actually occurred. You are entirely correct, I was thinking from a practical viewpoint. Given the wire is copper and connectors are brass, they have a different thermal expansion coefficient. Even where a terminal is loose following a thermal failure it would still be difficult to apportion blame to the electrician rather than some other failure. If he says he tightened up with his magic screwdriver to the correct torque, how would you prove otherwise. That's the role of the expert witness. You would need to see what his/her report says before deciding whether to proceed to proof. |
|
#29
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Andrew wrote:
On 24/03/2021 17:24, Tim+ wrote: Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim A couple more pictures. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...I0kDlJqRD9xrqI https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...LdCEBmhpwfUb8j Tim Do you need an Amazon Prime account to post these pics ? I think so. Tim -- Please don't feed the trolls |
|
#30
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:27, Fredxx wrote:
On 24/03/2021 18:00, Tim+ wrote: Scott wrote: On 24 Mar 2021 17:43:56 GMT, Tim+ wrote: Adrian Caspersz wrote: That fusebox not made for that overload on that leg, maybe it should have been installed on the right (full picture please!) Its been replaced now and I dont think there are more pictures. By a different electrician I hope? Nope.* Same one (which concerns me!). Did you check if he used a torque screwdriver? If he did, and he claim to have used the correct settings, he'll effectively be absolved from blame. I have not noticed torque settings for domestic mains electrical fittings, so I am wondering if these should always be marked somewhere? If I installed a 7kw electric car charger it would likely draw more continuous current than any (maybe all) other device in my house. I would think this would be true for many properties. -- Michael Chare |
|
#31
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Tim+ wrote:
This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A 118A of MCBs on a 80A RCD, but I doubt all the circuits would be fully loaded for long, are the righthand 32A MCBs both rings? Assume the EV charger is on the leftmost MCB? Looks more as though the terminals onto the live busbar weren't properly tight ... |
|
#32
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:07, Tim+ wrote:
ARW wrote: On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Loose connections. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? I am curious as to why there is an isolation switch. All the EV chargers I have fitted have a one built in. Now should that charger (I have no idea what make of charger it was) have been fed from that type of RCD? -- Adam |
|
#33
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:41, Theo wrote:
Tim+ wrote: yy ARW wrote: Loose connections. +1. Not appropriately torqued I would guess. (a common problem with electric showers, which tend to run for a much shorter time) It's possible a load 32A was applied which melted the isolator and cooked the RCD, but I would expect the MCB to trip for that. It could be a faulty or fake MCB I suppose. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? It really depends on how the charger is set up, which we can't see. Chargers can be set to monitor the outputs from the consumer unit and limit the current if another big load like a shower or cooker is in use, so that the maximum current of the supply is not exceeded. Alternatively the electrician can apply diversity to set the charger output to a lower current. I don't know the rating of that busbar, but I'd expect it to carry the full current from the main switch if it were wired that way. So I don't think an 80A RCD next to a 32A MCB should cause any problems (apart from perhaps running warm and gradual cookage over time). I may be wrong, but I thought each busbar was only rated for 60A for a 100A CU. With the presumption that the load would be split more or less equally to both sides of the CU. I am pretty sure the highest rated circuit should be next the RCD, next to the main switch. If I was the OP I would check the position of this MCB, after all it be the one with the highest continuous current, and check with the CU manufacturer's installation guide. |
|
#34
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 18:07, Tim+ wrote:
ARW wrote: On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Loose connections. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? There is something odd about the second from left MCB (in relation to the RCD). It does not appear to sit level with the other MCBs and is also appers to be most melted MCB. This could suggest that the bus bar was not correctly located inside the MCB or that it was not tightened up properly. -- Adam |
|
#35
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
ARW wrote:
On 24/03/2021 18:07, Tim+ wrote: ARW wrote: On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Loose connections. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? I am curious as to why there is an isolation switch. All the EV chargers I have fitted have a one built in. Um, Ive never seen a domestic charger with one built in. My Podpoint doesnt have one. I have a RCBO switch next to my consumer unit for isolating mine. Now should that charger (I have no idea what make of charger it was) have been fed from that type of RCD? It was a Project EV charger. Tim -- Please don't feed the trolls |
|
#36
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 20:05, Fredxx wrote:
On 24/03/2021 18:41, Theo wrote: Tim+ wrote: yy ARW wrote: Loose connections. +1.* Not appropriately torqued I would guess. (a common problem with electric showers, which tend to run for a much shorter time) It's possible a load 32A was applied which melted the isolator and cooked the RCD, but I would expect the MCB to trip for that.* It could be a faulty or fake MCB I suppose. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? It really depends on how the charger is set up, which we can't see. Chargers can be set to monitor the outputs from the consumer unit and limit the current if another big load like a shower or cooker is in use, so that the maximum current of the supply is not exceeded.* Alternatively the electrician can apply diversity to set the charger output to a lower current. I don't know the rating of that busbar, but I'd expect it to carry the full current from the main switch if it were wired that way.* So I don't think an 80A RCD next to a 32A MCB should cause any problems (apart from perhaps running warm and gradual cookage over time). I may be wrong, but I thought each busbar was only rated for 60A for a 100A CU. With the presumption that the load would be split more or less equally to both sides of the CU. I am pretty sure the highest rated circuit should be next the RCD, next to the main switch. If I was the OP I would check the position of this MCB, after all it be the one with the highest continuous current, and check with the CU manufacturer's installation guide. You are going back to the days of Wylex fuse boards. They always had that rule and some of them had an extra fuse to the right of the main switch for high loads. The Wylex CU in the photo will have no problem with the layout of the MCBs and is good for 100A. -- Adam |
|
#37
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
On 24/03/2021 20:19, Tim+ wrote:
ARW wrote: On 24/03/2021 18:07, Tim+ wrote: ARW wrote: On 24/03/2021 17:17, Tim+ wrote: This is the fuse box of a chap on Facebook who had a nasty experience after getting an 7kW EV charger fitted. I dont know enough to speculate on the cause but it there anything glaringly wrong here. https://www.amazon.co.uk/photos/shar...9HHYn227WF3V0A Tim Loose connections. Cheers. Is there anything wrong with the positioning of the MCB as suggested by Adrian? Also, is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs say (as might occur when car charging)? I am curious as to why there is an isolation switch. All the EV chargers I have fitted have a one built in. Um, Ive never seen a domestic charger with one built in. My Podpoint doesnt have one. I have a RCBO switch next to my consumer unit for isolating mine. Now should that charger (I have no idea what make of charger it was) have been fed from that type of RCD? It was a Project EV charger. I believe they have a built in DC protection device to keep the house RCD working. -- Adam |
|
#38
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Tim+ wrote:
is that burnt out isolator switch suitable for a 7kW load over 8 hrs Looks like 45A so should be ok, but why fit it in the first place? https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/products/1850955-1-gang-45a-double-pole-switch-white |
|
#39
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Fredxx wrote:
It's not obvious if he's used 4mm cable? In the leftmost MCB it does look fatter than the 2.5s on the ring circuits. more A few things which although not "wrong" do look like "my mate fitted it" standard. 1) why fit a shower/cooker isolator for an EV charger? 2) why use SY flex? 3) what's the extra black cable that's tyrap'ed to the flex? A lead to a current monitoring transformer? But mainly 4) it's managed to overhead terminals in both the CU and switch, most likely due to loose connections. |
|
#40
Posted to uk.d-i-y
|
|||
|
|||
|
Fusebox burn out.
Andy Burns wrote:
Fredxx wrote: It's not obvious if he's used 4mm cable? In the leftmost MCB it does look fatter than the 2.5s on the ring circuits. more A few things which although not "wrong" do look like "my mate fitted it" standard. 1) why fit a shower/cooker isolator for an EV charger? I suppose there might come a time when you need to connect an external cable run to an internal cable run, and an isolator seems like a useful thing to have. I'm half tempted to put one in in advance of getting an EV, as it means I can install a tidy internal cable run when doing other works. Roughly like a FCU but with a bigger switch (and no fuse). (and then go through the wall to a SWA termination box on the other side) Something like: https://www.cef.co.uk/catalogue/prod...e-rocker-white hopefully wouldn't look like too much of a bodge? (LGA Selectric have a similar one) 3) what's the extra black cable that's tyrap'ed to the flex? A lead to a current monitoring transformer? Possibly ethernet backhaul for a smart charger? But mainly 4) it's managed to overhead terminals in both the CU and switch, most likely due to loose connections. Yep, that's what my money is on. Theo |
| Reply |
|
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Forum | |||
| burn, baby, burn | Home Repair | |||
| Burn baby burn | Metalworking | |||
| Combi Boiler - To Burn Or Not To Burn | UK diy | |||
| strange fusebox/light fitting problem | UK diy | |||
| Wiring 8 socket extension into fusebox | UK diy | |||
![Tim+[_5_] is offline](https://www.diybanter.com/images/SultanThemeVB3R/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
Linear Mode
