Problem this afternoon

[uksparks]

Yes the readings we increasing as you would expect.

Dillb, you say its 230v to earth, I appreciate that, but if you are saying that the neutral is lost, i.e disconnected, broken, how can 230v go up the neutral and down the earth if its broken / disconnected somewhere?

Are you suggesting that the socket testing is wrong then? It clearly says the earth and line are reversed. Can you explain to me then how this is not the case?

I am trying to get my head around this in a logical manor but something inst clicking clearly.

 

[uksparks]

Remember the golden rule of fault finding: Don't trust what the customer tells you!

They all lie.

 

[Plonker 3]

Yes the readings we increasing as you would expect.

Dillb, you say its 230v to earth, I appreciate that, but if you are saying that the neutral is lost, i.e disconnected, broken, how can 230v go up the neutral and down the earth if its broken / disconnected somewhere?

Are you suggesting that the socket testing is wrong then? It clearly says the earth and line are reversed. Can you explain to me then how this is not the case?

I am trying to get my head around this in a logical manor but something inst clicking clearly.

There is obviously something plugged in that's not working, that puts voltage onto the neutral, which will then be shown on your tester.

 

[ipf]

First of all, check the neutral connection in the cu. Plug testers can be fooled.

Why do you get a belt from a disconnected neutral on a live circuit ?

 

[uksparks]

I'll go over Tuesday and sort it, Friday night is not the most ideal time to be fault finding. Something has clearly changed as he said he changed the 4 faceplates and then they wouldn't work... I'm not convinced.

enjoy your weekend.

 

[uksparks]

I unplugged everything and also switched all FCU's off by the way. It will probably be obvious to me when I go back.

 

[davesparks]

how can 230v go up the neutral and down the earth if its broken / disconnected somewhere?

230V doesn't go up or down anywhere, it exists at a point (any point) relative to another point.

Neutral is normally at 0 volts relative to earth ,ie. connected to earth, and live is at 230volts relative to neutral (and earth).

In your situation the connection to neutral has been broken at some point so everything which is the other side of the break will be effectively floating and not have any potential (voltage) relative to live or neutral. Except when a load is connected to the circuit, at which point the floating neutral wire becomes connected to live (via the load) and will therefore have a potential of 230volts relative to earth.

 

[jaypp]

and its already beeping at me without switching the switch on

are they only switching 1 pole? Also re DIY, explain to customer (tactfully) that the longer it takes, the more it costs and if he can remember seeing 'someone' doing j.b's etc and where, it will save £'s, then the canary will sing!

 

[uksparks]

Yes it must be so single pole. I cannot believe thT he only changed three faceplates, it's not possible to create this problem.

 

[uksparks]

230V doesn't go up or down anywhere, it exists at a point (any point) relative to another point.

Neutral is normally at 0 volts relative to earth ,ie. connected to earth, and live is at 230volts relative to neutral (and earth).

In your situation the connection to neutral has been broken at some point so everything which is the other side of the break will be effectively floating and not have any potential (voltage) relative to live or neutral. Except when a load is connected to the circuit, at which point the floating neutral wire becomes connected to live (via the load) and will therefore have a potential of 230volts relative to earth.

As everything was unplugged this is what is not helping, I'll let you know how I get on when I go back.