Shock with main switch off

[paulfreer]

Mate of mine rang me and said he changed a light fitting in one if his bedrooms. He turned the main switch off so not just the breaker for the upstairs lights,And he said he got a shock when touching the earth and neutral!! I said are you sure it was a neutral he said definately and he's fit the new fitting and it works fine. I said this was not possible unless his house is tapping off next doors or the lights are fed from the incoming side of the main switch, Which would mean he would have got a proper belt from the live!! Am I missing something here

 

[loop3]

An lol!

 

[Octopus]

Mate of mine rang me and said he changed a light fitting in one if his bedrooms. He turned the main switch off so not just the breaker for the upstairs lights,And he said he got a shock when touching the earth and neutral!! I said are you sure it was a neutral he said definately and he's fit the new fitting and it works fine. I said this was not possible unless his house is tapping off next doors or the lights are fed from the incoming side of the main switch, Which would mean he would have got a proper belt from the live!! Am I missing something here

Yup.

Never believe what clients tell you and go and do some investigation with your mft

 

[HandySparks]

If the main switch is off, it shouldn't be possible to get a shock between earth and neutral. Your mate needs to get an electrician in to investigate as this sounds potentially unsafe. (Unless it's just a bit of static from walking on the carpet.)

 

[Darkwood]

Its more than likely he just turned the light switch of and upon breaking the neutral got a 230v potential between N/E and when talking to you his story changed so as not to show his stupidy after you probably said something and it click in his head..... get this all the time .... people dont like to look stupid (well most) so its strange how they all suddenly know about safe isolation etc when its pointed out that a liht switch may still leave live parts in the existing fitting.

 

[somersetsparks]

have had a main switch (tenby) that was broken and only broke the neutral when it was switched off, the live was stuck closed and the plastic switch bit on the front had obviously become detached internally.
I noticed when I came to do the meggering and got the live warning beep,

 

[paulfreer]

Thanks for the input! Gonna go round with my test gear and get to the bottom of it!

 

[Octopus]

Thanks for the input! Gonna go round with my test gear and get to the bottom of it!

Good man.

Do give us an update when you've been.

 

[thomas-1981]

2-1 he only turned the light switch off :smiley2:

 

[decolad69]

2-1 he only turned the light switch off :smiley2:

Or not! lol

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Could be that he turned off the MCB, and the incoming polarity is reversed.

 

[tbs1983]

Could there be capacitor on the circuit somewhere (fluo maybe) that had stored a charge and then discharged through your mate on contact with neutral? Is this possible? Thoughs anyone?

 

[tbs1983]

Could be that he turned off the MCB, and the incoming polarity is reversed.

Yes could have meant MCB as 'main switch' as opposed to what we regard as main switch

 

[Engineer54]

Never believe or take as gospel everything a layman (be they friends, family, or paying customer's) tells you. Take it on board, and confirm or otherwise with your test equipment!! The chances here are, that his telling you a porky pie, to get you to come and sort something else out for him!! lol!!

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Did he get 'thrown across the room'?.....all DIYer's getting a shock invariably get 'thrown across the room'.

 

[Marvo]

Customers also don't use the correct names for things, they'll often call an MCB a main switch and as already mentioned they'll often lie through their teeth so as not to look stupid. If he's a mate tell him to buy some beers and pop around and do some basic tests and quick visual at the CU.

 

[lee236]

He probably isolated or tried to from the switch forgetting about the loop or a capacitive charge from a fluro using him as a route to earth.

 

[ezzzekiel]

Borrowed neutral and switched only one mcb?

 

[DJ Ovengloves]

According to the daily mail the shock was caused by illegal immigrants

 

[baldsparkies]

Is this the guy ?? Loves bananas. FunnyFuseFaves: Electric Shock Prank! - YouTube

 

[BlueToBits]

Static from the floor carpet?

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Isn't this why safe isolation was invented. Another good reason for mr diy not to get involved without knowledge and equipment.

Cheers.........Howard