Bathroom ceiling light melted wiring - likely cause?

[volks]

Bathroom bulb blew today, first time I've taken down the ceiling fitting since moving in. Found one of the live wires has partially melted through, no idea how long ago.

Wiring looks a bit of a mess anyway, but any ideas why it would have melted. Slightly concerned it could have melted through in places I can't see.

 

[Murdochcat]

If you are refering to the red cable with the black marks I would suggest its been like that since the fitting was put up

 

[securespark]

What kind of lamp (bulb) is in the fitting? Seems a lot of heat has been generated.

 

[securespark]

If you are refering to the red cable with the black marks I would suggest its been like that since the fitting was put up

I dunno...the brown and black marks on the fitting suggest some kind of event has occurred....but what?

 

[volks]

What kind of lamp (bulb) is in the fitting? Seems a lot of heat has been generated.

Normal E22 bulb fitting. Did have an old 60watt bulb that I am going to swap for LED, but it's been used daily for the last two years

 

[Murdochcat]

I dunno...the brown and black marks on the fitting suggest some kind of event has occurred....but what?

I very much doubt that was caused by electricity or the fitting

 

[blup]

The muck/grease on the side of the fitting got onto the red conductor, and has cooked. Check that the copper conductor isn't burnt, fit led bulb and keep under review.

 

[Jurassicspark]

If you are refering to the red cable with the black marks I would suggest its been like that since the fitting was put up

+1 with that.

If it was heat damage then all of the wires would have been burnt. Likely, the problem occurred when installing the light and someone making a human error.

 

[foxhole]

May be internal break in the red wire causing arcing .? Looks to be slight misalignment at damage.

 

[flameport]

That damage on the red has been there for ever.
If there had been heat damage from someone using an ancient 100W incandescent lamp in there, the plastic on that connector would have melted long before any wiring insulation was damaged,.
Other marks probably from an old label, water leaking from above and/or general dirt.

 

[volks]

Thanks all, put mind at ease at least. Will look to rectify it asap

 

[big-all]

to me it looks like strands and blobs like tar or similar
burning wouldnt have pencil thick lines on the surface??

 

[blup]

Yes, melted plastic from a label or similar

 

[honestworker]

I had something similar with a spotlight in the bathroom (1985 built house) of my previous house. There was insulation wool above the spotlight, retaining excess heat in the spotlight and above it, damaging the wiring to it. AFAIK, there should not be any insulation above the spotlight. On my present 2004 built house, I have seen what looks like short lengths of drain pipe fitted in the ceiling above the spotlights and wiring, allowing heat to escape and preventing insulation from covering the spotlights.

 

[JBR]

No-one has mentioned the possibility of a loosely tightened screw on to the red wire. Or am I talking a lot of rubbish?