High R2 - Lighting Circuit

[Marcus Vaughan]

Hi all,

I was hoping to sneak in a little job late this afternoon - changing a faulty bathroom pull chord for an outside switch plate. No problems with access. Straight forward enough.

House is almost certainly post 60's. CPC's present in lighting circuit.

Live Zs = open circuit.
R2 test with wander lead from MET to as many lighting JB's in the loft I could find = 60 k ohms.

So there is some sort of reading.

Loose connection?

Back tomorrow so any advice on where to start always appreciated.

It looks like the lights are wired in single line + cpc, looped in an out using every which method you can think of, and a neutral looping around each load.

Like I said - where to start.

There are other circuits available in the loft - I could bridge across from 1 JB to another with some 4.0mm if I have to (I suppose).

 

[DPG]

60 Ohms or 60 kOhms?

 

[buzzlightyear]

now that came to mind !

 

[Marcus Vaughan]

60 Ohms or 60 kOhms?

Sorry. 60 k ohms.

4 faults in CPC terminations at switches and JB’s. Now getting correct R1 + R2.

 

[Marcus Vaughan]

Thanks All. Sure enough CPC was present at consumer unit in with the line. It reached two out of the 8 rooms in the circuit.

Found no less than 4 disconnect CPC’s at junction boxes. I managed to clear the faults to switches at least and a couple of pendants. Never got round to the downlighters - that’s a can if worms. Pretty sure all the CPC faults were caused by whoever riddled the ceiling with the downlighters. Very poor installation.

The customer grumbled about the fault finding though stated ‘I want everything safe for insurance purposes’ but wasn’t prepared to pay for it. I basically worked for an extra 3 hours for free.

Perhaps if the fault was on the line or neutral they would be more understanding?

Thanks all. I can close this ‘Minor Works’ out.

I had a issue with the RCD testing though - all three failed.....new thread.

 

[DPG]

Nice one. Yeah looks a bit shoddy.

 

[Gareth Brookes]

I would send him a quote to get it to the state he wants it and add a bit for the 3 hours you have not charged for

 

[Gareth Brookes]

I would send him a quote to get it to the state he wants it and add a bit for the 3 hours you have not charged for

 

[buzzlightyear]

The customer grumbled about the fault finding though stated ‘I want everything safe for insurance purposes’ but wasn’t prepared to pay for it. I basically worked for an extra 3 hours for free.

I would have walked away from that job. before I start a job I tell the customer
if you want a job doing I tell them no earths on lighting circuits, right down to the bonding the job will not be done .

 

[Marcus Vaughan]

View attachment 40297now that came to mind !

I would have walked away from that job. before I start a job I tell the customer
if you want a job doing I tell them no earths on lighting circuits, right down to the bonding the job will not be done .

I think I must be a soft touch. I take a conscientious approach and always do loads of little extras ‘I’ll just tidy that up so they have no further problems’

I need to toughen up.

I’m a . (Supposed to be a -----!)

Today was a school day in so many ways.

 

[Octopus]

Good man .......... good post, answered questions raised AND gave good feedback on what you found.

Shame lots of posters don't do the same!

 

[buzzlightyear]

http://philiparmstrong.co.uk/Earthing-bonding-ESC.pdf op ,file this on your pc, if any my customers not happy I give them this .

 

[Toneyz]

Well done, glad to help you out.

 

[Marcus Vaughan]

http://philiparmstrong.co.uk/Earthing-bonding-ESC.pdf op ,file this on your pc, if any my customers not happy I give them this .

Have done. Thank you. That's ideal - and I will send it to this particular customer.