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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Electrical Questions >> Shocking https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1089443111 Message started by billythekid on Jul 10^th, 2004, 8:05am

Title: Shocking
Post by billythekid on Jul 10^th, 2004, 8:05am

Where should I look to find an earth fault and how?
When I was installing my mums bathroom suite a couple of years back I got one hell of a shock when I cut through the mains pipe(broke the circuit so it went through me?). To finish the job i used a set of jump leads until i had it all reconnected but it has kinda bothered me in the back of my mind since. All the bonding was in place in the bathroom and at the kitchen. Where do I start to check for the leak, or, is it one for a spark?

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by Lectrician on Jul 10^th, 2004, 9:01am

one for a spark.

PME fault, TT with no RCD.....

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by billythekid on Jul 10^th, 2004, 9:50am

Thanks Lectrician will leave it to the spark then. :)

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by HandyMac on Jul 10^th, 2004, 3:43pm

Agreed about the spark. However is it possible it might have just been some static built up? That can give you a nasty whack!

Andrew

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by rabbit_rabbit on Jul 10^th, 2004, 3:45pm

So can the wife

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by L.Spark on Jul 10^th, 2004, 4:18pm

honestly you two �::) ::) ::)

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by HandyMac on Jul 10^th, 2004, 6:15pm

wrote on Jul 10^th, 2004, 4:18pm:

honestly you two �::) ::) ::)

Oi! Mine was intended to be a serious answer. Please scold that ignorant rabbit..... ;)

Andrew

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by rabbit_rabbit on Jul 10^th, 2004, 7:01pm

wrote on Jul 10^th, 2004, 4:18pm:

honestly you two �::) ::) ::)

Who? me and the wife or me and me old mate HandyPandy?

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by HandyMac on Jul 10^th, 2004, 7:15pm

wrote on Jul 10^th, 2004, 7:01pm:

me old mate HandyPandy?

"Me old mate"?

Please, I'm still waiting for you to buy me that first pint..... ;)

Andrew

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by L.Spark on Jul 10^th, 2004, 11:09pm

Like I said �::)

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by HandyMac on Jul 11^th, 2004, 8:22am

wrote on Jul 10^th, 2004, 11:09pm:

Like I said �::)

You mean he hasn't bought you a pint yet then? I thought he was a tight so-and-so..... ;)

Andrew

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by L.Spark on Jul 11^th, 2004, 4:21pm

afraid not :'(

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by Beanzy on Jul 12^th, 2004, 2:43am

Careful with this one. It could be like one a teacher of mine had in Lambeth. Eventually fault traced to cooker switch plate, which had been shorted by screw put in through the live. Now with the full 45A available and connected to earth you'd have thought it would be a case of EEBADS kicks in. Problem was there was no proper earth connection, entire earthing of house had gone live. Teacher went to put strap around the lead sheath and the strap exploded out of his hands! Much shaken he eventually found the fault at the Cooker and remade the connections then did the earthing.

Treat with oodles of caution.

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by billythekid on Jul 12^th, 2004, 10:23pm

yeah beanzy, definately one for a pro. I know everyone hates answering these, but any idea on a rough cost for a trace, ayrshire.

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by scotspark on Jul 13^th, 2004, 12:24am

would have to be done hourly billy asfault could be a number of things.

Im in ayrshire but taking 2 weeks off from friday. PM me if you don't get someone else in the meantime

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by plugwash on Jul 13^th, 2004, 2:50am

i would guess the way to find it would be

switch off all mcbs
stick a clamp meter on that pipe
turn on the mcbs one at a time until you get a reading on the clamp meter

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by L.Spark on Jul 13^th, 2004, 9:42am

that may not be possible, really depends on the scale of the shock current/voltage or whatever

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by greg on Jul 13^th, 2004, 5:28pm

so if you put a clamp meter on the pipe work, what would you be looking for - amps?

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by plugwash on Jul 13^th, 2004, 5:34pm

well while he had the pipes seperate there was a nsty voltage so now they are connected that should make some current flow (how much depends on the severity of the fault it may not be mesureable)

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by Lectrician on Jul 13^th, 2004, 7:41pm

I reckon its a PME fault - the more mcb's you turn on, the more current will flow.

If you have a loop impedace tester, disconnect the main earth (with board off), and to a loop test from L to N (NOT EARTH). if its a high reading, N is lost in the network, and the earthed pipe is acting as the return.

Title: Re: Shocking
Post by L.Spark on Jul 13^th, 2004, 9:23pm

sounds more like to tbh, my clamp tends to not read too low, however im talking quite small.