neutral in Live Load on Fused Spur

[Brian Murdoch]

has anyone any experience of this. The boiler is 14 years old and has only just gone wrong. when the boiler engineer looked at it he found there was 240v between the neutral and earth inside the boiler unit.

 

[SparkyChick]

Hi Brian and welcome to the forums...

What did he do about it? Or is he expecting you to resolve it?

 

[westward10]

Reversed polarity?

 

[Pete999]

Reverse polarity?

Or reversed Polarity

 

[gazdkw82]

First thoughts would be reversed polarity but more investigation is needed.

Was it 230v at the neutral and earth terminals or just because the cable colours?

 

[westward10]

Or reversed Polarity

That's what I said

 

[littlespark]

If its only been tested in the boiler connections, and not at the supply switch/fuse, then maybe something has fried in the PCB and shorted out?
The boiler would probably work fine with reverse polarity, as would a lot of other appliances.
What needs to be done next is an electrician, not a boiler engineer, go and test the supply with the proper test equipment.

 

[Pete999]

That's what I said

I'm sure your original post said "Reverse polarity" That's why I added the d, still never mind Eh.

 

[Silly Sausage]

Boiler not working due to break in Neutral somewhere after his test point?

 

[Brian Murdoch]

So I went onto the Spur and the neutral is connected to the live load so it is not surprising that there is 230v on it.
He said I needed an electrician as it was a fault - I don't think it is a fault it is a bit of slack wiring from 14 years ago.
This is the third visit from an engineer (all different) and none of them seemed to know what to do.
I now have an electrician commitg out but I suspect he will just move the neutral to the Neutral load and the live to the Live Load.
I could do that!!

PS on the first visit the fuse inside the boiler and on the Spur had blown due to water (maybe condensation on the PCB. He replaced the fuse (with a bigger one 5A instead of 3A because thats all he had) and as the boiler was getting up to temp there was a pretty good pop...

So if the PCB wasn't fired I bet it is now.

I figured the boiler would work with the neutral and live replaced and it probably goes into ta transformer (I guess)

does all this make sense?

 

[Brian Murdoch]

Hi Brian and welcome to the forums...

What did he do about it? Or is he expecting you to resolve it?

He is expecting me to resolve - I am insured so can get the tradesman in bit it is all taking time. See my longer post a little bit below.

 

[Brian Murdoch]

If its only been tested in the boiler connections, and not at the supply switch/fuse, then maybe something has fried in the PCB and shorted out?
The boiler would probably work fine with reverse polarity, as would a lot of other appliances.
What needs to be done next is an electrician, not a boiler engineer, go and test the supply with the proper test equipment.

see my longer post below - I have checked at the fused box.

 

[westward10]

Things seem a bit clouded with neutral connected to live load and voltage between neutral and earth, a good electrician will resolve this.

 

[Brian Murdoch]

Things seem a bit clouded with neutral connected to live load and voltage between neutral and earth, a good electrician will resolve this.

Many thanks Westward10 - Its only the wires that go to the boiler from the fusebox that are reversed. All the inline stuff seems okay. so I figure it will just be a case of swapping the live wire to the live load slot and neutral to the neutral load slot and voila. I would have thought a boiler engineer would know that as it is pretty basic - but maybe I am expecting too much. Electrician is coming out Tuesday night - Probably be a quick and easy job for him.

 

[FatAlan]

Is it just me that thinks someone who fits boilers or heating systems controlled by electric pumps and switch systems should know and be competent to do the wiring?

 

[littlespark]

Is it just me that thinks someone who fits boilers or heating systems controlled by electric pumps and switch systems should know and be competent to do the wiring?

Apparently we are not allowed to open up a boiler to access the connections unless we are GasSafe… Should be the other way round as well. They shouldn't be allowed to touch the electrical side of things.

If there is a gas leak, God forbid, It will be a dodgy electrical joint arcing that ignites it.

 

[FatAlan]

Apparently we are not allowed to open up a boiler to access the connections unless we are GasSafe… Should be the other way round as well. They shouldn't be allowed to touch the electrical side of things.

If there is a gas leak, God forbid, It will be a dodgy electrical joint arcing that ignites it.

Precisely, if GasSafe, that should include being qualified and competent to do the sparky bits of the equipment.

 

[Baddegg]

Don’t forget gassafe is just posh wetpants,still wetpants,would you trust em with the electrical side?

 

[Brian Murdoch]

Is it just me that thinks someone who fits boilers or heating systems controlled by electric pumps and switch systems should know and be competent to do the wiring?

No - I am with you one this. This particular issue is so basic yet I have been left for another 4 days with no heating or hot water. I just get the impression everyone is running away from the job - any excuse?