Ever seen anything like this?

bruce_21

This used to be a Viessmann control on top of a Vitola 200 boiler. Seems a mouse got inside the boiler jacket through one of many holes in the bottom of the jacket assembly. The mouse ate some wires and it all caught fire and put nasty plastic smoke and soot on everything in the basement.
What were they thinking (smoking?) when they put all the wires and electric power in a place open to rodents and meant to go in a basement?
No other boiler has an unsealed jacket with wiring inside it. Major bad design in my opinion.
Of course the Viessmann rep didn't want to take any responsibility and the homeowner is stuck with the bill.

Steamhead

The correct spelling is "Vie$$mann" and this is one reason why.

Jamie Hall

Poor little mousey! Nice illustration of why code generally requires things to be in junction boxes... at least power wiring.

BobC

Mini split condensers are wide open to rodents, snakes and anything else that can wriggle into the cabinets.

Bob

Solid_Fuel_Man

Back when I went to trade school for electric controls, our teacher told us that everything electrical ran on smoke....but once you let the smoke out that they put there at the factory, it could never be put back in. And would never work again. Took me a few minutes to catch that one.

I've seen mice do a number on many electrical devices. How manufacturers can get things listed with open holes and wireing in it is beyond me. Code dictates that all unused openings be sealed or otherwise blocked to prevent accendental contact with live parts. Mice have a way of making their way into places that would take us many tools and fasteners to be removed to get to.

Taylor