Advise me please. strange wiring joins

[timtheenchanter]

the community hall where i work (rented by us, council owned) has recently had some work done on the electrics in the fuse board.

the Board is 3 Phase with 12 ways per phase. whilst changing a fuse (wire) earlier today, I noticed somthing odd.

from way one and two of the Red Phase (top row) was each a 1.5mm red cable, this was then connected together to a 2.5mm cable after approx 18".
the fuse in each should be a 15A, controlling lighting according to the labelling, this may or may not be true.

The cables do not look greatly joined as whatever method of joining is just covered in insulation tape

Can anyone see any reason for this connecetion, if so, what?

If anyone want a pic i will get one monday.

 

[ricicle]

A picture says a thousand words.....

 

[Spark123]

Yeah, it doesn't sound good though having two fuses supplying the same circuit.

 

[timtheenchanter]

I saw it earlier, its only whilst sat down doing some studying (to be a sparky, eventually) I dawned on me it probably wasn`t correct. as said i will get a pic on monday.

also, surely running 2 fuses in parrallel will alther the rating (2x 15A in parralel, 7.5A??)

 

[Spark123]

Nope, in theory parallel operation will double the CSA of the fuse hence will be somewhere in the region of 30A.

 

[timtheenchanter]

yep your right (putting book down) its too late to think now!

even worse then!

 

[briwire]

This is against the regs. Perhaps whoever did it had no 30 A fuses.

Unfortunately, as you have seen it and are aware of it, it is hard for you just to ignore it. There might even be a legal requirement for you to do something. Draw it to the attention of the customer and if they are willing, investigate it further. You could just remove the two 1.5s and connect the 2.5 directly into one of the now vacant fuseways, but standard 2.5 is rated less than 30 A so you would have to fit say a 20A fuse, unless it is XLPE type cable used in SWA and you might just get away with 30A fuse.

Whatever you do, you will be making it safer. If the fuse is too small it will just blow and you will know what it is feeding. Anything is safer than how it is now.

 

[timtheenchanter]

Hi, in this instance, Im not doing any electrical work, just noticed this whilst replacing the fuse wire for the immersion heaters.

I will almost certainly be bringing it to the attention of the Halls Manager, as to whoever installed it not having the right fuse. its only fuse wire! and there is a spare pack or two kept in the distro cupboard!

I will still post a pic monday!