Overloaded Supply?

[kai]

An overloaded supply intake perhaps - six 60amp fuses hanging off a old supply cable.

 

[bathjobby]

And the point is !

 

[plugwash]

all on the same phase or multiple phases?

 

[Steve]

Where's that? What sort of install? Do they have 6 consumer units?

 

[kai]

It feeds six consumer units in six flats above a shop.

 

[andy]

It feeds six consumer units in six flats above a shop.

imagine if they all took showers at the same time...

 

[Big_Spark]

As they are all sealed units, there is no Meter there so they must be in the flats, this will be an install by a DNO, so I think the worries you have kai are ill concieved.

The Cable is likely a 3 phase looking at the heads, so you likely have TWO 3 phase 100A supplies from a single cable with a common neutral, they have then spread the flats over the phases to spread the load..

Perfectly normal and perfectly safe.

This thread is the very epitomy of why amateurs and electricity don't mix.

Oh, and even if it is a singler phase supply, I don't think a DNO would authorise one of their cables to be so deliberatly overloaded...

 

[kai]

It actually looks like a single phase supply, as in a Three Phase Supply, the cable is much thicker than that, and it appears that extra fuses were daisy-chained off the first one over the years - and the supply cable is almost too hot to the touch!

 

[Big_Spark]

It actually looks like a single phase supply, as in a Three Phase Supply, the cable is much thicker than that, and it appears that extra fuses were daisy-chained off the first one over the years - and the supply cable is almost too hot to the touch!

Kai, the thickness of a cable is not an indicator of whether it is or is not single phse, it is the number of cores that determines this.

Also, if the cable is too hot too touch I have a couple of questions for you..

1: Why did you not say this in your origianl post as it would help to make any determination much clearer.

2: Why have you not called out the Local DNO and told them that the cable is too hot to touch and a possible fire hazard. If they start to get ****ty about this, then you invoke the Electricity Supply Act which details they have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of the supply and if they fail to address then then they are legally liable for any damage so caused.

3: Contact the owner of the property and explain the situation.

4: If required you should also contact a fire Officer, they can legally force the Landlord/Freeholder and the DNO to take action.

 

[kai]

If the cable was a 3 phase cable, (See where it enters the bottom of the black fuse block) than the cores must be of a very thin cross section - surely not enough to carry 100 amps per phase etc?

 

[Qedelec]

Kai
Please don't delay, that situation needs addressing urgently. Contact the people FWL advised immediately.
Have you considered that if there was and accident and it transpires that you knew of this problem, then you could be considered negligent.
Safety is everyone responsibility.