ideas please

[sparky-s-w]

hi guys/n girls

had a call today from a local farmer, "ive fitted a new flood light and connected it to the an origional feed", "but it dont work".
(apparently he did some electrics in the navy)
ME:-ok its either a faulty light, or the feed, ie damaged cable fuse triped etc.
FARMER:-"i checked the feed, at the connector block (junction boxs on post) got 215v" "but when i connect the light fiting then test i get 20 something volts"
ME:- Please leave it be, ill pop round thurs/friday.

now i've not seen/been so just trying to pre-empt the job.
any ideas, assuming what hes saying is true:rolleyes2:.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Floating neutral ................... or he is wiring something up in series .........

More concerned he's got 215 volts

 

[sparky-s-w]

yep he said defo 215v, i asked what he was using to test voltage, he said multi meter.

 

[sparky-s-w]

the light is all thats on the circuit aprrently

 

[Octopus]

If he's a farmer, with an out building on a very long cable, could volt drop be the issue?

 

[sparky-s-w]

thats what im thinking, think i might have to run a new supply in.

 

[KFH]

I would have thought a poor neutral or even a poor line connection giving a low voltage under load, did the old light work? Re the 215 even if it were a long cable there should be a decent voltage until there is a load, try testing to CPC assuming there is one.

 

[sparky-s-w]

yea thats why im thinking a new run, damaged cable might explane why the sudden loss of voltage under load.
prob no earth, he said the cable is SWA ran underground to a post