Can I confirm how to test for and how to find a borrowed neutral?

[HappyHippyDad]

It's proving difficult getting a date to do the fault finding, so I'm afraid there won't be an update any time soon. I will update though when I've been back.

 

[westward10]

Leaving us hanging again some of us will be losing sleep

 

[bigspark17]

This is different though. It's not a line from one circuit paired with a neutral from another, it's two different neutrals connected together. It's not something you would do even as a bodge and might be a true fault e.g. a screw through two cables.

I dont think so! Keep taking the pills if you think a screw has gone through 2 different cables. Im assuming you dont do much domestic stuff.

 

[timhoward]

I dont think so! Keep taking the pills if you think a screw has gone through 2 different cables. Im assuming you dont do much domestic stuff.

What he means is there are two different scenarios:
A) no neutral there at all so one is stolen from elsewhere (like your conservatory light example)
B) two neutral conductors from different circuits are joined (what this thread is about and not really a borrowed neutral. All my ideas for what we could call this don’t get past the language filter….

 

[mainline]

I dont think so! Keep taking the pills if you think a screw has gone through 2 different cables. Im assuming you dont do much domestic stuff.

I've seen where someone has put two cables one on top of each other to save on clips, notched in under floorboards, so it's certainly possible.

 

[7029 dave]

What he means is there are two different scenarios:
A) no neutral there at all so one is stolen from elsewhere (like your conservatory light example)
B) two neutral conductors from different circuits are joined (what this thread is about and not really a borrowed neutral. All my ideas for what we could call this don’t get past the language filter….

That is more of an interconnection than a borrowed neutral IMO

 

[Dave OCD]

I dont think so! Keep taking the pills if you think a screw has gone through 2 different cables. Im assuming you dont do much domestic stuff.

There's really no need for that attitude - particularly towards such a highly respected member with more knowledge than you could ever get close to.

 

[davesparks]

I dont think so! Keep taking the pills if you think a screw has gone through 2 different cables. Im assuming you dont do much domestic stuff.

Why couldn't a screw have gone through 2 different cables?

 

[mainline]

A pair of cables running along a ceiling joist could both get penetrated.
Hanging a light fitting, if you used long screws and only caught the edge of the joist you could easily cause an N-N short, and maybe also cause a resistance to the CPC at the same time.

The same goes for cables in partitions.


A bit more info on the type of house/size etc maybe of help.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Well, I must apologise as I shall not be returning to the customer, so I will not be able to update. I've just had the most odd conversation with him on the phone and he does not want me back. Bit shocked as that hasn't happened before. As in the opening post, he was a very difficult man to deal with but I wasn't expecting that.

His reasons were that I miss diagnosed a faulty cooker and I left the loft lights on!

I'm not a 100% sure I didn't miss diagnose the cooker. The cooker itself showed 0.1Mohms N-E. Is this perhaps acceptable for some cookers? Its an older looking rangemaster. Even so, bit harsh!

Happy not to be going back though, he was a very un pleasant man and shockingly rude to his very pleasant wife.

Oh yes, and he isn't going to pay for the 2 hours fault finding or fixing his 3 kitchen lights. I will not be going to the small claims for a £100 and shall take it on the chin, albeit a little grumpily

The neutral problem will remain and we shall never know!!!