Possible Electrical mess-up - Eek - Urgent Help needed

ChilliBob

Hey guys, 

I wanted to get rid of our electric fireplace downstairs so switched off the downstairs ring, tested it wasn't working.

Then on the chimney breast side there was a fused switch. 




I opened it and unscrewed all the cables, took it off, pulled out the fireplace. Result. Then I'm left with two massive thick cables I can't pull out.. Clearly I have now discovered they are the power for the fire. 

Now I don't know what to do with them! 

* I know they are live
* I don't know how they were connected into the switch
* some are joined together, which should give some clue

* I've put insulation tape around the ends for now, but I don't know what happens if I turn the downstairs ring back on?! 

* most important, I don't know how to make it safe again, and I have an inquisitive 4 year old! 

Any help much, much appreciated. 

For ref, here's the cable from the fire I removed 

Anthony147

Do not switch the mains back on

Brown = Live
Blue = Neutral
Green = Earth 

If for any reason your not sure what the above means in practice, decide if you feel comfortable to put the switch back or know you should call an Electrician or Handyman to do the job you want done.

Until you’ve terminated or put the switch back - Turning the mains back on will make the ends live.

EssexExile

Two cables? One from the supply, the other to the fire. Is it obvious which is which? Do you have any test equipment?

Norman_Castle

Were the two grey cables plus the black cable connected to the back of the switch? If so I'd suspect the two grey cables are the ring main. Wait for an electrician to advise. Hopefully you can connect them using the switch.

For future reference, Mark the cables and take photographs before removing cables.

FreeBear

EssexExile said:

Two cables? One from the supply, the other to the fire. Is it obvious which is which? Do you have any test equipment?

Looks like there were originally three cables. One being a flexible cable connected to the fire, the other two, part of the ring main.

I would suggest a 30A terminal strip. Connect the wires up (matching colours), and shove the terminal strip into the back box. Cover with a blanking plate to keep inquisitive fingers out.

If you have any doubts, call an electrician in.

ChilliBob

Right, so yes, I can confirm there were three cables screwed into that fcu. The two grey ones you see and the black one for the fire.

Photos - yes, stupidly as I wasn't replacing just removing I didn't do that.

The update is my Dad came back with a tester (screwdriver type) had me put the power back on and test both the brown cables. Both of them lit the screwdriver up, meaning both are live.

All have insulation tape around and power is off still but I do know I can turn it on and nothing goes bang, but obviously there are two live cables. 

I don't know why there are two, or, how to rewier, that's the issue. Some sfuff was together, others not, and being a metal socket, there was some earthing too.

My best guess:
* both blue go go the N at the bottom
* Both live go to the live in
* earth - perhaps one to earth in, one to switch

But.. That's guesses

ChilliBob

FreeBear said:

EssexExile said:

Two cables? One from the supply, the other to the fire. Is it obvious which is which? Do you have any test equipment?

Looks like there were originally three cables. One being a flexible cable connected to the fire, the other two, part of the ring main.

I would suggest a 30A terminal strip. Connect the wires up (matching colours), and shove the terminal strip into the back box. Cover with a blanking plate to keep inquisitive fingers out.

If you have any doubts, call an electrician in.

Terminal strip, in familiar with those, but I don't have one to hand.

In terms of the matching colours, so thay would mean say blue either side, then brown, then green. Despite the fact these may have been joined into the fcu

I'm puzzled where these two wires actually go, do they come direct from the consumer unit, or, from a socket? 

With the power back on, and using a lamp in the socket I wonder if that could help me tell.

Thanks all. Bloody fireplace! 

ChilliBob

So one of these: https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-white-30a-12-way-cable-connector-strip/178062_BQ.prd

Then one of these

https://www.diy.com/departments/bg-white-1-gang-raised-square-profile-blanking-plate/788874_BQ.prd

What I don't understand is why you'd connect same colours each side, therefore connecting them, as opposed to cutting that connector into two chunks of three and connecting each separate cable onto each, thus duplicating the insulation tape idea, but with more security and formality 

Anthony147

Originally the greys would have gone one side and black to the fire out the other via the fuse and switch.

Its old wiring, your not sure how it was wired up previously and your asking strangers on the internet about things that can be dangerous - mean no disrespect but having read your responses and OP, you need to call someone experienced or qualified.

FaceHead

The two cables are the ring.

They need to be connected together, otherwise the ring is open, and the other wires on the ring will be overloaded. 

The components ChilliBob suggested: 3 blocks cut of that strip of 10, one to connect each of the three pairs of colours together, and then a blanking plate on backbox left behind from the switched FCU. FCU in the bin. 

ChilliBob

Thanks, yeah I do realise this is outside my usual skill set and comfort zone. I've wired up additional sockets from junction boxes under the floor and stuff, and put new lights up but that's about it. 

I'll need to call somebody at some point but nobody will be able to come tonight or something, so I'm thinking the termination block idea is the way to go in the meantime.

Yep, I'm aware in asking strangers, however, I have exhausted my own knowledge and that of my immediate circle of family, so, it's that until I consult a professional (who's still a stranger, but obviously a professional!).

I do understand the risks associated with this sort of thing as opposed asking for advice on wallpapering or painting, so I won't just blindly follow someone telling me to lick the brown cable and see what happens :0