- Reaction score
- 186
Hiya.
For anyone interested in domestic fault finding I had a funny one today...
Customer complained about her bs 3871 popout kept popping on her downstairs and basement sockets so I went round, did my testing and found the circuit was failing the IR tests (I will pass on telling you about the hour long conversations with the senile pensioner customers, where the ground was retrodden more than an army barracks parade ground...).
So... as usual, I split the ring at the believed half way point - to discover both legs were failing the IR test. Ok, not the first time I have had multiple faults on a job...
So... I removed all accessories and tested at each point resulting in fails at 1 leg at lounge socket, 1 leg at a dining room socket next to it, and both legs at a socket next to an electric fire place in the basement directly below. I then deduced whoever fitted out the basement obviously split the cable between the lounge and dining to extend it down to this basement socket and back. All I needed to do now was find the connections (which I'd have expected to be below the lounge/dinging sockets).
So... I ended up cutting 7 holes in the ceiling to find the terminal boxes . They were nowhere near any of the sockets (I couldn't pull the floor up - before you ask). The cables, it would transpire, run from the basement socket, behind the fireplace (with connection teminals enroute in the fire place), through the wall to the other side (which is a utility room), up the wall behind dot & dab where it's worth pointing out they had no protection, no rcd, not in a zone... In fact they were mm away from a picture nail. and then across the ceiling under joists to the terminal boxes 3 feet away from the wall.
basement socket right hand side of fireplace going left and then through the wall to 2b.
2b) where they come through wall. 3) terminal boxes. 4) dining room socket above. 5) lounge socket above.
Now the interesting thing is these newer cables were only about 3-5 years old (hard to tell cos the customer got confused as to when it was done) but showed no sign of damage. I managed to pull out one bit between the fireplace and the basement socket, meggered it at 0.17, then opened the cable up to find no damage what so ever. I can only conclude it is immitation black market cable which has let condensation penetrate the insulation making it useless. I would be interested if anyone else has come across this?
It confused me how after splitting the ring I got bad readings from both legs. It was nice to realise I wasn't going crazy ... Although the customers made up for that in spades
For anyone interested in domestic fault finding I had a funny one today...
Customer complained about her bs 3871 popout kept popping on her downstairs and basement sockets so I went round, did my testing and found the circuit was failing the IR tests (I will pass on telling you about the hour long conversations with the senile pensioner customers, where the ground was retrodden more than an army barracks parade ground...).
So... as usual, I split the ring at the believed half way point - to discover both legs were failing the IR test. Ok, not the first time I have had multiple faults on a job...
So... I removed all accessories and tested at each point resulting in fails at 1 leg at lounge socket, 1 leg at a dining room socket next to it, and both legs at a socket next to an electric fire place in the basement directly below. I then deduced whoever fitted out the basement obviously split the cable between the lounge and dining to extend it down to this basement socket and back. All I needed to do now was find the connections (which I'd have expected to be below the lounge/dinging sockets).
So... I ended up cutting 7 holes in the ceiling to find the terminal boxes . They were nowhere near any of the sockets (I couldn't pull the floor up - before you ask). The cables, it would transpire, run from the basement socket, behind the fireplace (with connection teminals enroute in the fire place), through the wall to the other side (which is a utility room), up the wall behind dot & dab where it's worth pointing out they had no protection, no rcd, not in a zone... In fact they were mm away from a picture nail. and then across the ceiling under joists to the terminal boxes 3 feet away from the wall.
Now the interesting thing is these newer cables were only about 3-5 years old (hard to tell cos the customer got confused as to when it was done) but showed no sign of damage. I managed to pull out one bit between the fireplace and the basement socket, meggered it at 0.17, then opened the cable up to find no damage what so ever. I can only conclude it is immitation black market cable which has let condensation penetrate the insulation making it useless. I would be interested if anyone else has come across this?
It confused me how after splitting the ring I got bad readings from both legs. It was nice to realise I wasn't going crazy ... Although the customers made up for that in spades