Be very careful out there,it might hurt

[cliffed]

Had to fix a trailing swa,with 2g socket on the end of it.
Maintenance sparky checked it,peculiar voltage,40v.
I checked it with my volt meter ,sure enough 40v.
Plug my plug tester in,dead.
Checked the zs & v on my test kit,dead.
Checked with mains continuity tester dead.
Cut it with hacksaw,bang.
Radial serving a number of sockets,no Rcd,16 amp mcb,1.5mm 3 core.
Thinking,the sheath of the live not contacting terminal on socket.
Never take anything for granted.

 

[buzzlightyear]

Had to fix a trailing swa,with 2g socket on the end of it.
Maintenance sparky checked it,peculiar voltage,40v.
I checked it with my volt meter ,sure enough 40v.
Plug my plug tester in,dead.
Checked the zs & v on my test kit,dead.
Checked with mains continuity tester dead.
Cut it with hacksaw,bang.
Radial serving a number of sockets,no Rcd,16 amp mcb,1.5mm 3 core.
Thinking,the sheath of the live not contacting terminal on socket.
Never take anything for granted

o well, you learn some thing new every day .

 

[cliffed]

Indeed you do

 

[buzzlightyear]

Indeed you do

yes Stanley.

 

[marconi]

I think the learning point is to first identify the circuit and its point of isolation and then isolate it before doing proving dead tests.

 

[stevethesparks]

I would want to know why various tests did not prove live.
Edit: you had to fix it, what was the reported problem in the first place?

 

[buzzlightyear]

Thats what i call bang test!
or was it f##t i will go for it.

 

[cliffed]

I would want to know why various tests did not prove live.
Edit: you had to fix it, what was the reported problem in the first place?

Was asked to fix swa & power point,the tests proved it was dead.
Given the information I had,I did all tests.
Lesson learned,ie:ID first,isolate,then proceed.

 

[ipf]

Some maintenance guy..... doesn't even think of isolation for starters.... that's before your embarrassment.

 

[cliffed]

Yea,another for the book of life.

 

[streamer]

I hope you had a spare blade in the van for your hacksaw!

 

[plugsandsparks]

Yep, would have been straight forward to find the breaker first as you will have to find it eventually anyway to turn it back on. Would have solved your 40V as well

 

[Squid]

I hope you had a spare blade in the van for your hacksaw!

I store mine in the frame of my Sandvik 225 ;o))))

 

[streamer]

@SWD Now you're showing off!

 

[The Ghost]

Yeh I was getting a shock working above suspended ceiling between the metal grid of the ceiling and the earth of the lighting I was installing of 120v. Most mysterious. Later external lights were wowing and fluttering (17 of them) tested the voltages at the switch end got 200 volts on earth I think and went to work on that fault. Found a neutral on one of the lights junctions was connected to Earth fixed, and no voltage between grid and earth now. But as I result I have added to the safe isolation and teach anyone (younger people who do work for me for experience) to test between metal parts and earth. Who would have expected it though. You just cannot be too careful.

 

[ferg]

Recently I was scrabbling about in a loft looking for a JB feeding an outside light that was not working.

Isolated all the lighting circuits, stuck my hand in blind to pull out the JB.

Got a belt of an old ceiling rose used as a JB without the cover.

The moral of the story....

How hard is it to say 'I'm going to turn the power off while I have a look'

FWIW whatever earache I get on here I've already said to myself.

 

[telectrix]

few years ago, my lad was with me on a job. 6.0mm redundant shower cable was to come out. "that cable is dead" says the wet pants. laddo cuts cable Bang Flash, sidecutters wrecked. moral of the story... never trust a plumber, they're raised from birth as congenital liars.

 

[johnduffell]

test between metal parts and earth

totally spot on. it would be negligant not to test between any metal parts withnig 2m.
e.g leaning on a metal water pipe/scaffolding/steel beam/washing machine casing, testing in a light switch. no cpc continuity for whatever reason. Measure live to earth, nothing, touch the pipe, 240v shock.
Any metal that's part of the electrical installation or extraneous can create a hazard. That's why bonding/earthing causes a danger and shouldn't be done except where necessary (class I equipment or extraneous conductive part that cannot be insulated) .

 

[The Ghost]

How hard is it to say 'I'm going to turn the power off while I have a look

That is the reason for many electric shocks, not being arsed to get out of the loft go down the ladder, down the stairs and isolate.

 

[gazdkw82]

Abit unsure how you measured 40v then nothing. Alarm bells would be ringing at that point. I always test between line to earth, neutral to earth and then earth to neutral with an approved voltage indicator. I then run my voltage pen around it.

However even if proven dead, I still wouldn't work unless I confirmed which circuit it was and the circuit was locked off. Had a nasty belt once because I thought I had isolated the correct circuit, turned out it was fed from another mcb :-o