Extremely loud bang near fusebox.

I investigate reports of such a bang a few years back, after the customer told me where he thought the noise came from I looked under floorboards.

T & E hanging down under the floor and laying on damp soil. Pinhole in cable (might have been there since installation some years previous).
I deducted that dirty water had penertrated, caused a short, rapid heating of cable caused the "bang" and cleared the fault at the same time and ready to start the procedure again hours later the time period dependant upon the actual dampness of the soil at the time.

Renewed cable,clipped it up and clipped up all other nearby cables hanging in a similar fashion.
The problem never returned over ten plus years compared to between once to six times a day.
So I recckoned probably sorted.
(Rewireable 30A fuses and no RCD).

ebee said:

I investigate reports of such a bang a few years back, after the customer told me where he thought the noise came from I looked under floorboards.

T & E hanging down under the floor and laying on damp soil. Pinhole in cable (might have been there since installation some years previous).
I deducted that dirty water had penertrated, caused a short, rapid heating of cable caused the "bang" and cleared the fault at the same time and ready to start the procedure again hours later the time period dependant upon the actual dampness of the soil at the time.

Renewed cable,clipped it up and clipped up all other nearby cables hanging in a similar fashion.
The problem never returned over ten plus years compared to between once to six times a day.
So I recckoned probably sorted.
(Rewireable 30A fuses and no RCD).

Click to expand...

I guess there must be a scientific reason why that sort of thing happens, sudden ionizeation of the surrounding air perhaps, just like why a fuse bangs when it fails sometimes. A bit above my paygrade though.

Thank you all.

ebee said:

I investigate reports of such a bang a few years back, after the customer told me where he thought the noise came from I looked under floorboards.

T & E hanging down under the floor and laying on damp soil. Pinhole in cable (might have been there since installation some years previous).
I deducted that dirty water had penertrated, caused a short, rapid heating of cable caused the "bang" and cleared the fault at the same time and ready to start the procedure again hours later the time period dependant upon the actual dampness of the soil at the time.

Renewed cable,clipped it up and clipped up all other nearby cables hanging in a similar fashion.
The problem never returned over ten plus years compared to between once to six times a day.
So I recckoned probably sorted.
(Rewireable 30A fuses and no RCD).

Click to expand...

This sounds exactly like my problem. You've reminded me that the bang did sound like it was from under our floorboards - before I went and convinced myself differently. Thank you very much.

We have an electrician coming tomorrow afternoon, I will report back then.

ebee said:

I investigate reports of such a bang a few years back, after the customer told me where he thought the noise came from I looked under floorboards.

T & E hanging down under the floor and laying on damp soil. Pinhole in cable (might have been there since installation some years previous).
I deducted that dirty water had penertrated, caused a short, rapid heating of cable caused the "bang" and cleared the fault at the same time and ready to start the procedure again hours later the time period dependant upon the actual dampness of the soil at the time.

Renewed cable,clipped it up and clipped up all other nearby cables hanging in a similar fashion.
The problem never returned over ten plus years compared to between once to six times a day.
So I recckoned probably sorted.
(Rewireable 30A fuses and no RCD).

Click to expand...

I need to draw ebee's experience to JohnW2's attention!

Here was my situation:
Starts at #14.

sorryf said:

This sounds exactly like my problem. You've reminded me that the bang did sound like it was from under our floorboards - before I went and convinced myself differently. Thank you very much.

We have an electrician coming tomorrow afternoon, I will report back then.

Click to expand...

Clearly, I’m going about my search in the wrong way. The electrician called on the day saying he had too much work on to visit, but that without needing to look at the issue he knew that it would need at least the whole floor rewiring.

Ultimately we will probably want to rewire the whole house at some point, but not this year. For now we'd just like this issue resolved.

If there’s anyone here in the North East London area who could recommend an electrician, or if you’re an electrician yourself and might be interested, please message me. Many thanks.

May I add, when was the last time your gas installation was serviced, inspected? Did they do a sustained (more than 30 min's) pressure test on the pipework?

My parents house was wired in 1954 with a rubber type twin and earth, it had been added to over the years, but that rubber cable was crumbling, and I was well aware it needed I rewire.

I could put an insulation tester on the circuits, and it did not show as being too bad, but the RCD fitted had to be removed, as every day it would trip.

It was not simply one circuit, they were all bad, no earths to the lights, and I had a dad saying "I'm not living in a building site, you can do it when I'm gone." which is what happened.

Son had the same problem, he fitted a new consumer unit, with a block of 4 sockets under it, and they supplied all in house with extension leads while he was slowly re-wiring the house. For a time they lived in a caravan in back garden. It caused many an argument between him and me, as I did not consider it was how my daughter-in-law and grand children should have been living.

But there is a limit as to what help can be given with a forum, and I know we all wish we could do essential repairs for less money, but sometimes there is simply no option.

sorryf said:

without needing to look at the issue he knew that it would need at least the whole floor rewiring.

Click to expand...

I would kick into touch any "electrician" who proposes a remedy for a problem he's not looked at.