New Heated Towel Rail blows fuse...

[Rodtheplod]

Hey all,

The chrome heated towel rail that I have in my downstairs bathroom stopped working a few months back and so I purchased a replacement from eBay.

The connections look exactly the same - just three blue, brown, and yellow/green cables that go into the socket on the wall. (On the wall outside of the bathroom is another one which has a 13amp fuse). So after isolating the supply I fitted the new towel rail onto the wall and connected the three cables in the same way as the previous towel rail was fitted.

When I put the power back on and turn the towel rail on, the fuse in the wall socket on the wall outside the bathroom blew as the switch in the main junction box flicked up.

I put a new 13amp fuse in and tried again but the same thing happened.

Any idea where the problem would be?

Thanks.

R.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The connections look exactly the same - just three blue, brown, and yellow/green cables that go into the socket on the wall.

Do you really mean socket? In a bathroom? You don't wire appliances into sockets, you put a plug on them and plug them into sockets.

(Next to this socket is another one which has a 13amp fuse).

Do you really mean socket? Apart from 3-gang converters, sockets aren't fused.

Any idea where the problem would be?

Dodgy wiring - a photo of what you've done would be useful.

Or a faulty appliance - do you have a multimeter?

 

[Rodtheplod]

Thanks for the quick reply!

Apologies for my dodgy terminology.

Here is what I called the 'socket' next to the heated towel rail. This has three connections inside for the three blue, brown, and yellow/green cables:

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• Rodtheplod
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On the wall just outside of the bathroom is the other 'socket' which has a fuse and an on/off button:

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• Rodtheplod
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Sorry - my original post wasn't clear on the positioning on these. So just to clarify, the top picture is inside the bathroom, the bottom picture is on the wall just outside.

It didn't seem like a difficult job which is why I'm a little surprised that the fuse blows when I switch the switch in the bottom picture on.

No - I don't have a working multimeter. I can get one tomorrow though. What should I be checking for?

Thanks again,


R.[/img]

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I would say you have incorrectly wired it.
I don't understand why anyone would attempt to replace the fuse knowing the first one was blown, without checking the cable terminations.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I would assume if you have power to the rest of the circuit, when fuse has blown, you have connected something up incorrectly at the flex of the heater.

 

[slippyr4]

The first picture is a flex outlet plate, the second is called a fused connection unit. neither are sockets.

isolate the power, and take a clear photo of what you've done inside the flex outlet plate, and post it up here.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

No - I don't have a working multimeter. I can get one tomorrow though. What should I be checking for?

Low resistance between L & N.

Or between L & E if the circuit has no RCD.

 

[Rodtheplod]

Wow - thanks all for the replies. It's appreciated. I do try with the DIY and generally make a good job of things, but yes electrics is not my strongest point unfortunately.

I've isolated the power by leaving the switch off in the main consumer box. I've also removed the fuse from the fused connection unit and left that switch in the 'off' position.

I've added some close up pictures below of the connections I made inside the flex outlet plate. They all appear secure, but maybe I should undo these and redo them again?

Thanks again for your valued advice.

R.

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[EFLImpudence]

Deleted - I made a cock up - sorry

 

[ban-all-sheds]

I've added some close up pictures below of the connections I made inside the flex outlet plate.

Can't see anything there which would cause the problem you describe.

 

[sparkwright]

The most likely reason for your problem could be the wires inside that flex outlet in the bathroom could be 'pinched' up against any of that metalwork.

The metal bits (for example the back box, or the earth terminal on the flex outlet) are connected to earth so if this comes in contact with the live wires you get a short circuit, and the fuse will blow.

Check all live and neutral wires for damage in their insulation, repair if necessary, and arrange them so they AREN'T (EDIT) pressed up tight against any metal parts.

 

[swampy2]

The live 2.5mm is damaged just where it comes out of external sheath, you can see the black scorch marks.

 

[Rodtheplod]

The live 2.5mm is damaged just where it comes out of external sheath, you can see the black scorch marks.

Hey Swampy2 - thanks for checking the pictures. Actually, thats just how the picture has come out - shadows or something caused by the flash.

In reality, the live cable is fine. No scorch or burn marks at all.

R.

 

[sparkwright]

Look closely for any tiny nicks in the insulation of the wires.

 

[Rodtheplod]

Check all live and neutral wires for damage in their insulation, repair if necessary, and arrange them so they AREN'T (EDIT) pressed up tight against any metal parts.

OK cool. I'm going to make sure all cables are good, and seated properly in the flex outlet, and then I'll retest.

Hmmmm - I might need to pop down to Tesco to get some fuses first, tho.

I'll repost here later today with an update.

Thanks all,

R.