CHARGER NEARLY CAUSES A FIRE ! PART 1

Wallbox charger and loose connections nearly cause a fire

[@finchyfun1]

We are hoping to have a charger fitted through mobility. When they finish what things can we look out for to make sure it’s done properly Plus we are having our energy supplier putting an isolating switch to make it safer for the person who puts in the charger. We are also having an outside EV consumer unit fitted to also make it easier for fitting.

[@ferrisr]

Was that original dumpster fire of a panel/install up to code there? I find it amusing how, typically, Brits claim that those giant ugly receptacles/plugs with fuses and switches are safer, but then in so many videos like this, I see panels that seem archaic. Here in the USA, that would have never been plastic, never been allowed in a cupboard buried in flammable goods like that, etc.

[@brightsparkmid]

We never fit into an existing fuse board for the reason we want to isolate ourselves from other poor workmanship, Yes all boards are now metal and for good reason

[@gorak9000]

But but the giant plugs big enough to flog a horse with and fuses in the plug (because ring mains with no fuses) are "better" - sure thing!

[@brightsparkmid]

Sorry what ??

[@joeypriestman6783]

@@gorak9000mate what are you waffling? Anything before the meter isn’t our responsibility, your horse swinging plug issue is down to the Dno not us sparks.

[@brightsparkmid]

So true lol

[@tomschmidt381]

Overheating car chargers is also a problem on this side of the pond. The long duration EV charging load tax residential electrical systems. Interesting in the UK working distance around service equipment does not seem to be a big deal.

[@rogerbean393]

Yeah people just put them anywhere. Had to pull the back of a wardrobe to get to one before, removed kitchen units . The worst was a restaurant where the had wash basin was on hooks and the pipes on long flexible so I could get to the panel behind to get to the electrics !

[@thattoolguy9432]

The installer of that certainly rode away on his horse, good vid... just don't be poking around with your finger in a live board, VDE is your friend.. we all do it.. just not on camera 🤣

[@brightsparkmid]

Was waiting for someone to spot it haha 😜

[@thattoolguy9432]

pet hate of mine after seeing a mate get a wallop off 6kv.. hospitalised for 2 weeks.. we all get a bit complacent... gotta look out for each other

[@brightsparkmid]

@thattoolguy9432 it’s true mate, and yes defo get too complacent sometimes

[@Henchman1977]

So for wire identification, are wires not colour coordinated? In north America it's usually a matter of matching colours for residential... Not 100% of applications but close.

[@brightsparkmid]

Yes they are. So the guy has used normal colours that you would find in a three phase board, but he has used it for single phase which is perfectly fine, but the identification of three phase is different to single phase

[@isaacpenfold4973]

Great video, thanks

[@brightsparkmid]

Glad you liked it!

[@Maxwelhouser66]

As long as you dont use a Hagar one- they are worthless

[@brightsparkmid]

Hate Hagar, fusebox is my go to

[@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

Its not just the electrical installation thats at risk the damage from such a short the harmonics produced during charging, could have a severe impact on any battery pack and electronics connected to it too.

[@brightsparkmid]

A very valid point

[@finchyfun1]

They are not actually car charges. The car charger is actually in the car. What we plug the car into at Home is really an EV power management supply. But for some reason, everyone calls it a car charger.

[@brightsparkmid]

No the inverter is in the vehicle that converts the AC charge to DC to be able to provide power to the batteries, 🔋 either way it’s still a charger

[@Lyndalewinder]

@@brightsparkmid Not true - the inverter in the car converts DC from the battery to AC for the traction motor and is nothing to do with charging. In the case of charging, power from the vehicle chargepoint (wallbox) is AC and is converted in the car to DC in the On-Board-Charger (OBC) and is then used to charge the battery. The maximum power that the OBC can handle usually is in the range 11 to 22kW with UK charge points normally limited to 7kW. In the case of DC charging the charge point IS the charger and it is told what power to delliver by the car which is monitoring the battery state of charge and cell temperatures etc. This is because the amount of power being fed to the car is huge in comparison to the AC charging situation and a charger that large could not be built into the car.

[@brightsparkmid]

The OBC still uses an inverter to convert AC - DC

[@Lyndalewinder]

@@brightsparkmid Stick to house electrics pal

[@brightsparkmid]

So go on, Mr. Clever clogs explain to me how a charger converts AC power to DC power to charge the DC batteries.

[@WitchidWitchid]

Interesting. Seems very different than how the wiring is.done down here in the United States.

[@brightsparkmid]

In what way ? Interesting 🧐

[@TheSeanUhTron]

@@brightsparkmid Aside from the obvious (120VAC, split phase, different color codes, etc.): In the US, we aren't allowed to run any sort of cable outdoors without it being protected by something like PVC pipe. Also if we direct wire a car charger, it doesn't need ground-fault protection (RCD). We only need those if the run is terminated with a receptacle. Lastly, our breaker panels (Consumer unit) are MASSIVE! Partly because we operate on a lower voltage and need to draw more amps, thus we need more separate circuits. They're also always metal.

[@alanbaltic]

I started watching and was convinced that Octopus energy did the install. Am I wrong? 😮

[@brightsparkmid]

O comment ……

[@dominicgoodwin1147]

This doesn’t quite make sense. If there was a short or arcing right by the rcbo then it wouldn’t have caused the swa to get hot and brittle right down the cable.

[@brightsparkmid]

The constant arching an high load in a loose connection is what caused the brittle cable

[@sergiofernandez3725]

Good stuff. Nick Bundy who? Lol

[@brightsparkmid]

Wouldn’t be producing videos if it wasn’t for the support of him. Artisan who lol 😂

[@sergiofernandez3725]

@@brightsparkmid Nick.B is a top bloke. He has helped many a person. Recently he helped out David @DSES after a tool theft

[@thattoolguy9432]

@@sergiofernandez3725 the old flexicon king is a top bloke

[@brightsparkmid]

Yes he is such a nice guy we met only recently and have done some great work together

[@brightsparkmid]

We have been doing commercial works and I have had to keep him away from the stuff lol

[@AnthonyChopra]

the front covers cable looks like a old PC ide cable

[@brightsparkmid]

Its is a ribbon cable yes

[@stranglx]

I’m not excusing this poor installation, however SWA only requires glanding if the additional protection of earthed armour is required, for example if buried in ground ect, if the cable has an internal core used as CPC, is RCD protected and installed surface mounted it wouldn’t need earthed armour any more than T&E or EV ultra does. …just saying.

[@brightsparkmid]

It’s a valid point you make but let’s say the guy has nicked the inner core (like he has) that had the potential to make the swa cores live when they should not be, me personally I always gland down one end. I guess it’s more bad practice than it is against regs, another BS7671 grey area. Thanks for the detailed and informative comment though

[@stranglx]

@@brightsparkmid best practice is always best for sure, and personally I think if you’re a best practice kind of tradie you’re unlikely to do things lick nic a cable and leave it, so I can’t disagree with you.

[@brightsparkmid]

@stranglx 💯 % mate, if I caught a cable I would have to deal with it. Personal preference would to be gland and eart a minimum of one end just to be on the safe side, it’s always nice to see what other people would do in the situation, We can both agree that the other guy was soooo bad though lol, 😂

[@stranglx]

@@brightsparkmid I’ve happily rerun a cable I’ve nicked with my knife before. You’ve got to own your mistakes in our game or you’ll end up melting something! Well I say “happily”.

[@dang8795]

Thumbnail gives the impression the wall box is at fault, which doesnt really seem to be the case...

[@brightsparkmid]

If the charger hadn’t been fitted so poorly, then this would’ve never happened to the consume unit in the first place

[@SacUnDruz]

Wait they went ahead and installed an RCBO without earthing the fucking charger? How is it supposed to be working then? Or did this genius use the gray wire as the earth?

[@brightsparkmid]

Grey was used as earth

[@solidfuel0]

Engineer?? You need to be an engineer to wire this?

[@brightsparkmid]

This guy couldn’t manage it, must have been a plumber

[@jcadult101]

@@brightsparkmid In the states, referring to an engineer is someone with a 4 year degree. An electrician aka 'sparky' would be one installing residential service.

[@DT-uy1ex]

That is a cheapest price wins ev installation

[@brightsparkmid]

Probably ye