Borrowed neutral question.

[Ponty Massive]

Oxo, I'm sat here with a smile on my face and giggling to myself. If you disagree with what I have said, then tell me why you think this is so dangerous by putting both circuits on the same MCB?

Also if the customer would not have you putting in new circuits....what would you do??

 

[Ponty Massive]

What you both said is "borrowed neutrals are not dangerous"and that is plain nonsense.

Where did we say that??????

 

[oxocube]

I'm sat here .... giggling to myself.

Why are'nt I surprised.

 

[oxocube]

Can't agree with that. In what way is it dangerous?

This was your response to post No 9.

 

[Ponty Massive]

Why are'nt I surprised.

Now who's getting abusive?

So can you answer my question or not??

 

[Ponty Massive]

Can't agree with that. In what way is it dangerous? I did a CU change a few days back. Explained to the customer about the borrowed neutral and how it would effect them. They didn't want the extra work and were happy to put both lighting circuits on one mcb. Made a note on the cert as to why I had done it!!!!!

I'm sure that's a lot safer than the old 3036 board they had before with a borrowed neutral over two fuses!!

You mean this one?

 

[oxocube]

What Ponty said was perfectly valid.

That means he agrees with you

 

[Rappid]

If the two circuits are put into one, the neutral is no longer "borrowed". I agree it may not conform to 17th regs with the inconvenience of two lighting circuits being placed on one circuit, however this is not a complete rewire, its a CU change! What's to say in this situation there wasn't a third lighting circuit which could have been placed on a different rcd?

Anyway, are you telling me if your customer didn't want to have their house pulled apart or go to the expense of putting new wiring in, you would not change the CU for them?

Is it not safer to have a CU with 2 lighting circuits on 1 MCB and RCD protection than having no RCD protection whatsoever??

 

[Knobhead]

For Christ’s sake never go in to industrial control. British industry is on it’s knees as it is.
50 fuses or MCB’s returning on a common 0V neutral bus isn’t uncommon, and I’m not talking ELV here.

 

[Knobhead]

That means he agrees with you

Yes I fully agree with Ponty I can’t make it any clearer!

 

[oxocube]

If you disagree with what I have said, then tell me why you think this is so dangerous by putting both circuits on the same MCB?

I don't think its dangerous.

Also if the customer would not have you putting in new circuits....what would you do??

I would have tested and found the borrowed neutrals before the change and if the customer refused the rectification works, I would walk away.

 

[Rappid]

I would have tested and found the borrowed neutrals before the change and if the customer refused the rectification works, I would walk away.

I'm sure the customer would find another electrician who would change the CU.

 

[Hawk81]

Ponty while I do not agree with you on this thread I was hoping to see a good debate on the subject but your poor attitude has ruined it. What need was there to belittle another forum member by calling them "son" and "get back to your 3 week coarse"?? Hope you feel big now. I still stand by my statement that borrowed neutrals are dangerous and if you can't see how then its is maybe you who needs more education.

 

[oxocube]

50 fuses or MCB’s returning on a common 0V neutral bus isn’t uncommon,[/QUOTE]

Yes thats found in every fuseboard in the world. And for you to make that comparison with borrowed neutral shows that you don't understand what a borrowed neutral is, and thats why you wrongly believe they are not dangerous.

 

[Hawk81]

I'm sure the customer would find another electrician who would change the CU.

I have saw a lot of unsatisfactory work done by other "electricians" that I would not do.

 

[Rappid]

same here, because everybody has their own interpretation of the regs. i.e. is that glass half full or half empty

 

[Ponty Massive]

Hawk, I also enjoy a debate on questions like this and seeing other peoples view, but when I make an input to the debate and in return get a comment like this...

I can't believe an electrician said that.

...then the standard of the thread looks to be set.


I do agree a borrowed neutral can be dangerous and that's why I feel it's safer to change the board for an RCD type and put both circuits on the same MCB as aposed to leaving in a 3036 board with a borrowed neutral let across two fuses.

 

[oxocube]

I do agree a borrowed neutral can be dangerous

Thats strange you said in post No 9 they are not dangerous, perhaps you've learnt something today.

 

[Ponty Massive]

Thats strange you said in post No 9 they are not dangerous, perhaps you've learnt something today.

If you are going to use one of my quotes (#9) then at least have the decency to use the whole quote (#26) to try and attack me!

 

[Engineer54]

If you are going to use one of my quotes (#9) then at least have the decency to use the whole quote (#26) to try and attack me!

Someones trying to make a mountain out of a molehill here. Either that or they haven't read what you have written, in the way you intended.