Loudest bang of my career...

[RF Lighting]

Wired a couple of sockets in pyro today.

Made all the ends off, did full set of tests, all IR tests >200MΩ.

Powered up via a 16A RCBO, and the pot end in the CU immediately exploded.

I've never heard a bang like it. My left ear is still ringing now.

I don't know if there was a bit of contamination in the potting compound or I've disturbed the pot while terminating the wires into the RCBO, but wasn't expecting that when I powered up!

Line and neutral both evaporated, and the crimped pot uncrimped it's self and splattered potting compound all over the CU

 

[dingodeano]

You were to shaken to get the camera out?

 

[ericmark]

And you still love pyro?

 

[RF Lighting]

There wasn't a lot to photo really! Of course I still love pyro! The pot virtually contained the blast. Even when things go really wrong, it's still one of the safest cables there is.

 

[ericmark]

I looked at a local church and if I could have kicked the electrician I would have. Twin and earth around a beautifully carved wood ceiling. Pyro would have gone into the mortar hiding all wiring.

 

[Adam_151]

What was the PFC at the board? I imagine it was high-ish?

 

[flyingsparks]

Rf - do you use much pyro? What was this circuit for / located for it t be wired In pyro? Only wondered because In the last 9 years I have only ever done 2 jobs with the stuff!

 

[westie101]

Loud bangs, exploding switchgear, pavements blowing up a normal day in my life at work!

 

[SaladFingers]

I had a massive bang at work once.

It was rather awkard after, as I think she was expecting a relationship out of it.

 

[securespark]

You mean s*d.

 

[ricicle]

I blew a 500A fuse once...........

 

[Adam_151]

New trousers time?

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I blew a 500A fuse once...........

Practising your technique, were you?

 

[Guitarguy]

Once we err 'proved' a phase to phase fault. A rather large flame shot out the hole higher than the van. Good job no one was around!

 

[RF Lighting]

What was the PFC at the board? I imagine it was high-ish?

It was about 900A. Nothing spectacular.

I think I need to find a new MI supplier. My current one has recently changed the potting compound, and it's now a white compound which is much softer and stickier then the old stuff. Also now my IR tests seem to be between 220MΩ and 350MΩ rather than with the old compound where it was always >1000MΩ.

Rf - do you use much pyro? What was this circuit for / located for it t be wired In pyro? Only wondered because In the last 9 years I have only ever done 2 jobs with the stuff!

I do a few jobs a year with it. This was for a couple of sockets in a domestic loft conversion. They are on an exposed brick chimney breast.

sorry it's not the best photo