Electrician Uncovers Dangerous Botched Wiring – Hidden for Years! (Wife Blames Me!) *PICS*

[boolie]

I just had an isolator switch installed in my electricity supply (arranged through my supplier).

About ten minutes into the job, the electrician called me downstairs to the cellar, looking absolutely shocked. "You need to see this," he said, holding up one of the supply tails he’d just removed.

The tail, running between the cut-out and the meter, had been horrendously botched. Midway along the cable, it had been stripped and wrapped in electrical tape, concealing some pretty serious damage. The fuse-side end of the cable was charred, and when he peeled back the tape, the copper underneath was blackened and frayed, with some strands even cut. Strangely, it looked as though someone had tried to solder it back together.

These old tails were hidden behind a wooden mount, which is why this mess hadn’t been spotted before. According to the electrician, I’m lucky he even checked and removed it because technically he could’ve installed the isolator without touching those tails.

I’ve attached pics of the wire and the new setup. It’s tough to capture just how bad it was, but hopefully, the photos help illustrate the state it was in.

btw we've been in this house ~20 years

Since, Ive been at this house Ive had a CU installed and smart meters installed, nobody spotted it


So here’s my question to you all – how on earth could this have happened? Was it really a professional who did this? (My wife is convinced I’m to blame since I’m always dabbling in DIY, but I swear I don’t mess with anything on that side of the consumer unit!)

 

[ericmark]

I would think some time in the past, someone has been stealing electric. It should have been picket up with the EICR done as you moved in, but I know I never did one with this house, but if before the meter, again the guy changing meter should have found it, however we simply don't look for signs of theft unless something alerts one.

 

[Murdochcat]

I would think some time in the past, someone has been stealing electric. It should have been picket up with the EICR done as you moved in, but I know I never did one with this house, but if before the meter, again the guy changing meter should have found it, however we simply don't look for signs of theft unless something alerts one.

Not sure I agree with this. The OP stated that this cable had been concealed

 

[Old Salt]

That cable has a brown identifier fitted. Not sure when they came in but it aint too long ago (2006 onwards for grey sheathed cable?). I agree with ericmark it looks as if someone has been fiddling their meter.

 

[JohnD]

The darning needle theft.

Probably Mrs Boolie.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

So here’s my question to you all – how on earth could this have happened? Was it really a professional who did this? (My wife is convinced I’m to blame since I’m always dabbling in DIY, but I swear I don’t mess with anything on that side of the consumer unit!)

I agree with the others - someone has been bypassing the meter. A bit of wire, connected beteen that damaged cable, and the consumers side of the meter, live, would allow free power. The damage to the cable, was due to a poor connection, causing heating.

Is there any smell of cannabis in the place, or etc??

 

[mattylad]

Hence why it was concealed...
I blame the cyclist.

 

[boolie]

the stealing leccy makes sense. that explains what looks like soldering. I bought the house about 20 years ago from a relative, didnt get a full survey done or anything like that, before me it was being let out

I had a smart meter installed a few years back and I think he must have attached the brown identifier mark to this botched cable - he obviously didnt check the bit that was hidden behind the wood. I seem to remember him saying the fuse wasnt sealed

 

[boolie]

Not sure I agree with this. The OP stated that this cable had been concealed

maybe it was concealed just before he left the property to hide the crime?? i.e. pull the fuse, stick elec tape over it and hide it behind the wooden board

 

[boolie]

That cable has a brown identifier fitted. Not sure when they came in but it aint too long ago (2006 onwards for grey sheathed cable?). I agree with ericmark it looks as if someone has been fiddling their meter.

that where I'm thinking maybe the smart meter installer added that

 

[sparkwright]

Did the electrician say if the seal on the cut out had been removed?

 

[boolie]

the electrician that came today didnt say that, becase the seal was in tact... but the electrician that came a few years ago to install the smart meter said it had been removed. A few years before that I had a CU installed, he didn't say anything about the seal. he may have been the one that removed it. The CU installation was the first piece of work I had done on the electrics

 

[plugwash]

That cable has a brown identifier fitted. Not sure when they came in but it aint too long ago (2006 onwards for grey sheathed cable?). I agree with ericmark it looks as if someone has been fiddling their meter.

Grey sheathed tails were around way before 2006, I suspect they have been a thing for as long as meter tails have had PVC sheath (there was a time when unsheathed singles were used as meter tails). It's hard to be sure from the picture but I think the OPs has red inner insulation which would suggest pre 2006.

The coloured cable ties and plastic boots are a relatively new thing. I presume the DNOs are trying to improve touchproofing and reduce the risk of reverse polarity, they also seem to now use tails with sheath coloured the same as the insulation for new work, presumablly for the same reason.

 

[boolie]

It's hard to be sure from the picture but I think the OPs has red inner insulation which would suggest pre 2006.

yes it is red. What do you think @JohnW2 - one for the scrapbook?? how does this rank in the worst youv'e seen?

 

[Old Salt]

Grey sheathed tails were around way before 2006, I suspect they have been a thing for as long as meter tails have had PVC sheath (there was a time when unsheathed singles were used as meter tails). It's hard to be sure from the picture but I think the OPs has red inner insulation which would suggest pre 2006.

The coloured cable ties and plastic boots are a relatively new thing. I presume the DNOs are trying to improve touchproofing and reduce the risk of reverse polarity, they also seem to now use tails with sheath coloured the same as the insulation for new work, presumablly for the same reason.

Yes but I believe grey sheathed became compulsory in 2006 until the more recent changes. I could be wrong I remember being wrong once before.