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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
  • ebee: 
     

    Someone I know removes the sheath of an unbroken T & E and bares conductors to go in grubscrew terminals then the spur gets wired as normal. He reckons he feels happier that if a screw unturns the ring is still connected. Of course the cpc remains unsleeved (or a bit of G/Y insulating tape applied.

     

    I must admit I avoid junction boxes if at all possible and don`t like the split terminal type with grubscrews in anyway.

    I was actually shown how to do that in the college workshop by the instructor who was ex-MEB having done his apprenticeship in a Kidderminster carpet factory, having shown us he said he didn’t recommend it, but it was something we would see occasionally.

Reply
  • ebee: 
     

    Someone I know removes the sheath of an unbroken T & E and bares conductors to go in grubscrew terminals then the spur gets wired as normal. He reckons he feels happier that if a screw unturns the ring is still connected. Of course the cpc remains unsleeved (or a bit of G/Y insulating tape applied.

     

    I must admit I avoid junction boxes if at all possible and don`t like the split terminal type with grubscrews in anyway.

    I was actually shown how to do that in the college workshop by the instructor who was ex-MEB having done his apprenticeship in a Kidderminster carpet factory, having shown us he said he didn’t recommend it, but it was something we would see occasionally.

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