2 problems, gas oven + house electrics

[Nomad]

Victoriana Duxe Lux - the ovens should self ignite when the gas is turned on. I moved the cooker to get something that had fallen behind - now the ovens don’t ignite.
The grill self-ignites as normal, the sparkler button lights the rings as normal.
Have I knocked a self-timer?

The main fuse in an 1820s cottage is tripping since a cable was chewed (don’t ask!).
Turning off all individual trip switches doesn’t help.
I guess it’s a 4 core lighting cable, I see exposed cores but no shorts so why is the main fuse tripping?
I have previously suggested gafa tape (to stop the parrots & dogs chewing wires) but my advice was ignored.

Any useful suggestions to fix either problem?

 

[Neilj]

A quick pic of your 'main fuse' would help so we know exactly what's tripping (MCB / RCD etc)

 

[hotponyshoes]

It might have some sort of timer.
My current oven does, needs resetting after a power cut to get the oven to come on but the hobs still work fine.

My previous oven was connected to the mains but used a 9v battery for the sparker for some obscure reason...

 

[brightspark]

isit duel fuel or just gas

 

[Dave-sparks]

With regards the tripping it is presumably an RCD, ELCB or VOELCB which is tripping and not actually a fuse blowing? If it was the main fuse, or even a circuit breaker then that cable would likely be somewhat of a blackened mess.

In which case it will be tripping due to a tiny amount of current leaking from one core to earth. As turning off individual circuits doesn't help it suggests that the leakage is between neutral and earth, which makes sense looking at it.
It looks like there may be a bit of green goo (a result of a reaction between copper and something in the insulation of cables from a particular period in time) there which could be responsible for the league current.

Ultimately that needs to remain dead until the damage has been properly repaired, and the installation inspected for any further damage.

 

[Nomad]

@brightspark - the stove has gas rings & ovens / grill, and electric hotplate / warmer / ignition / lights.
The self-igniter works as normal on the grill so I know the system is working - my guess is the "fault" is something specific to the ovens, I'm hoping there a self-timer switch I've knocked

The wiring fault is at an Ex's place and I won't be able to get there for at least a month, the wiring is old (plastic insulation, old colour scheme). The "fusebox" was replaced about 10 years ago with a simple modern box, it has trip switches not wirewound fuses but I'm not sure if it has mcb or rcd ... I've asked for photos

Thanks everyone

 

[Nomad]

The oven is now fixed, normal service has resumed (and I can once again cook pizzas if the need arises).
The problem was indeed the self timer, I had knocked the selector dial so the "Self Timer" was set to "Off" (logic says this is correct)
Changing the self timer to "Manual" got the ovens working again, it feels wrong but but it fixed the problem ...

 

[Nomad]

@Neilj & everyone else, photo of the fuse box as requested. According to the sticker it's RCCB protected.
From what you said, I guess the fault is leakage between neutral and earth somewhere.
It sounds like somebody is coming out in a few days to check it.

For info, today the main fuse and the others turned on ok for a while then tripped again. I guess this is a borderline or intermittent fault - they’re always fun to trace



Thanks everyone, if I was nearby I'd be happy check things myself. Fault finding over the phone is a lot more difficult !

 

[Neilj]

If it's the RCCB tripping then as mentioned already it likely to be a neutral / earth fault. Needs a sparky with testing gear really to find the fault but that chewed wiring won't be helping.

 

[Barking Mat]

We had a similar problem, furry rodents had chewed the insulation off wires.