Socket shows LN Reverse on socket tester

lknights1987 · Oct 12, 2019

Hi all,

I have recently moved into a flat. One the single sockets shows LN reverse on the socket tester that I bought today Why could this be ?

I have checked the earth connection which is all good.

telectrix · Oct 12, 2019

so check that red (or brown) is in the L terminal and the black (or blue) is in N. isolate circuit bfore opening.

westward10 · Oct 12, 2019

Have you tried any other sockets.

Richard Burns · Oct 12, 2019

Because you appear to be getting a reading before the socket switch is on this would indicate that the switch is not switching the line but instead is switching the neutral, which would be consistent with telectrix's statement above.
A simple, but potentially dangerous, wiring error.

lknights1987 · Oct 12, 2019

Thanks for your replies to my comment. I think I have found the problem! One of the double sockets in the living room the earth cable had fallen out.

I’ve attached a photo. Why would the earth cable go into a connector in the block and then into the back of the socket connector? Can I run the earth cable straight into the socket ?

[ElectriciansForums.net] Socket shows LN Reverse on socket tester

fairlight · Oct 12, 2019

It looks like one earth is connected to the socket and the other to the earthing terminal in the backbox. while this is not correct practice,when the socket is screwed back both earths will be joined, so I would doubt this is your issue. From your original post it would appear that the L and N are simply in the wrong terminals in the socket, have you checked that?

lknights1987 · Oct 12, 2019

In all living room sockets the earth cable was out. I’ve put the earths back in but I’m getting the following voltage readings on one of the double sockets

between live and neutral 243volts

live and earth 141volts

neutral and earth 103 volts

all cables are in the correct connection slots on all sockets

westward10 · Oct 12, 2019

Looks like it has no earth.

DPG · Oct 12, 2019

I think you would be wise to get an electrician to give things a check over. Do you own the flat or rent it?

multimick · Oct 12, 2019

seen it before with these testers ,usually is an earth fault . not reverse polarity

James · Oct 12, 2019

multimick said:
seen it before with these testers ,usually is an earth fault . not reverse polarity

Yes, when you think about it, the simple tester probably reports a voltage above say 50v between N + E as wrong polarity.

static zap · Oct 12, 2019

James the Spark1976 said:
Yes, when you think about it, the simple tester probably reports a voltage above say 50v between N + E as wrong polarity.

These simple testers may even put a "test" voltage above 50V on to a floating earth !

.. Proper MFT does test quickly and moves on ..
Or complains and moves no further !

Socket shows LN Reverse on socket tester

lknights1987

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telectrix

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westward10

Richard Burns

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lknights1987

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fairlight

lknights1987

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westward10

DPG

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multimick

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James

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static zap

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