WYLEX fuse.. now no more fridge etc?

[daphne77]

Hi,

I really hope you can help me!
I just moved into a new old house and it is starting to attack me

One of my fuses blew today (30amp wylex cartrige fuse), probably due to a boiler that is losing waterpressure quite rapidly since i moved in (or something else in kitchen was making a hell of noise)

I replaced it but after more noise from kitchen ( i didn't turn anything off unfortunately) it blew with a bang and it smelled a bit smokey near the fusebox. I switched two fuses (and turned off the boiler) and then about half the appliances started to work again (lamps; nothing in the kitchen though (fridge, coffemaker etc). I went into town to get fusewire. I replaced the fusewire and turned on the electricity: still no fridge, micro, washer, nothing. I replaced two more wires (which looked somewhat corroded), nothing. I turned around fuses, but nothing in my kitchen will work. The paper on the fuses on the switches for the appliances is intact, so i am guessing they are fine ( i just moved to the UK, so i am new to all of this).

I did notice inside the fusebox (a wylex, 3x 30amp fuse and 3x 5 amp plug, (doesn't sound like a lot with all our appliances)), that the grey velvety substance that is located directly behind the fusewire when it is in place also completely evaporated (probably the smell earlier). It is intact behind all the other fuses. Could this be my problem: did it break the fuse box?? If yes, what can i do about it??

I really hope you can help me. I just moved here and i can't reach my landlady since here phonenumber turned out to be incorrect. By the time i get hold of the correct number it will be monday and by then i will be cold (lack of heating) and smelly (lack of hot water), my food will have gone bad (lack of fridge) and my clothing will be mouldy (because washingmachine won't open)...

HELP!!

Daphne

 

[plugwash]

you talk first about cartridge fuses and then about fuse wire, from this i am guessing that when you say cartridge fuse you mean a rewirable carrier like the one in the pic above.

anyway i'd strongly suggest leaving the fuse out until an electrican has taken a look, whatever happened it sounds pretty serious.

fridge and washing machine you can handle by running an extention lead from another circuit (your upstairs sockets are ok right)

for heat you should be able to get a portable heater from somewhere thats open on a sunday.

for hot water you may well find there is an immersion heater on the hot water tank, if not your rather out of luck.

since you suspect the boiler may have something to do with the problem that needs to be looked at too but like the wiring that can wait until you've spoken to your landlord (calling out tradesmen yourself is probablly not a good idea if you don't wan't to end up out of poket)

 

[daphne77]

yes sorry, not too much experience with fuses, untill a few hours ago in had never seen one except the screw type fuses...
The one in the pic is the one i have....

Thanks for all the tips, i will try to track down my landlady, i have resocketed my fridge and i'll wear an extra sweater!

Do you know if the grey velvety substance inside the fusebox on the wall could be the problem??

Thanks a lot!

 

[Spark123]

The velvetty stuff you speak of could be asbestos.
As for the rest, I agree with Plugwash, best left to a professional electrician.

 

[RF Lighting]

unless it is a really really old fuse then it is probably not asbestos.

I think wylex use some sort of plasticy stuff instead nowadays.

There might not have been anything there to start with. The grey bits have a habit of falling out

I have only seen asbestos flash pads on the old brown fuse holders with the painted edges, which are fairly rare.

 

[daphne77]

an electrician came today, a "ring" broke at two points.
So it's behind the walls
Thanks for your help!