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Live - Neutral reverse from plug in tester

Former Community Member
Former Community Member

Hi, being retired for 2 years i was in trade as domestic electrcian for 10 years then commercail for next 40 years. So have high level od experience in field, yet never experienced the below unrational fault.

Really baffling me now (and an  independant competant electrican contractor) is a recent problem where i found using Martindale plug in tester (also using  independant contractors KEW plug in tester) that on a ring circuit somewhare in its middle 2 outlets read L-N reverse.

Yet taking off the outlets, the cables are connected correctly and live tested live in its correct position so Plug top fuse was correctly protecting appliances. This is on a recently extended ring circuit for room extension. I have read other blogs where they say the earth could be live or at least have a voltage presence, or that the earth CPC in fact could be floating so having volts induced to it.  Both scary thoughts.   

Any one had same issue please and what was found to then correct fault. 

I have yet to do a local earth test of the cpc at the two outlets and check the consumer unit earth connection to the main incoming supply.  Also all other outlets in house test correctly so assume main earth connection is not a problem and the RCD as main isolator passes its tests,

Parents
  • The martindale style testers are a good start, but double faults often bring up a misleading code. However, something is wrong.

    Do you have a meter that can measure volts, and a long enough wander lead to reach something you can be sure is solidly earthed ?

    If so just verify the L-E and N-E voltages, .and then the CPC to E voltage. I suspect all will be revealed, and you may have two things wrong that may well be related, confusing the tester.

    And do not rule out a hidden joint box in the middle of what you assumed was one cable.

    And reverse polarity sockets are not unknown either, I think there were a few mentioned some years ago with the markings the wrong way round on the back!!

    Mike.

     

Reply
  • The martindale style testers are a good start, but double faults often bring up a misleading code. However, something is wrong.

    Do you have a meter that can measure volts, and a long enough wander lead to reach something you can be sure is solidly earthed ?

    If so just verify the L-E and N-E voltages, .and then the CPC to E voltage. I suspect all will be revealed, and you may have two things wrong that may well be related, confusing the tester.

    And do not rule out a hidden joint box in the middle of what you assumed was one cable.

    And reverse polarity sockets are not unknown either, I think there were a few mentioned some years ago with the markings the wrong way round on the back!!

    Mike.

     

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