70v on neutral

Alkaline_Steely · Oct 29, 2021

Hello.
I’ve recently bought a house. I’ve not been living in it whilst I’ve been decorating today I moved in. All of the upstairs lighting is on one circuit. And has previously had down-lights installed in each room. Now I’ve just turned the lights off and noticed that they are still glowing ever so slightly. So I’ve popped in the attic and noted that from the consumer unit to the attic is a black rubber cable. Then it goes into a green connector block and from there grey twin and earth scoots round the loft and over each room there is another green connector block. That the down lights for that room are plugged into and so on

Ive had a quick test with a multi meter and found 70v n-e is this just a case of a loose connection on the neutral?

Behing the switches there’s no neural. Some switches are just red in and out. The pull switches have l-n-e in them.

Cheers for thoughts

littlespark · Oct 29, 2021

I wouldn't trust a multimeter. There may be voltage, but it wont be exactly 70v. Its just an indication of something. What did you test across?

The black rubber cable doesnt sound right... Is there any chance you could photgraph what you see and post here?
How old is this house?

Two reds at a switch isnt unusual... its the live, and a switched live back up to the lights. No neutral needed.

buzzlightyear · Oct 29, 2021

Has above, in doubt pics would help and a local spark to advices.

Alkaline_Steely · Oct 29, 2021

Attached is a pic of some off cuts of the cable in the loft. Where it comes up it’s only black and red. And at the consumer unit there’s no rcd.

I tested between a water pipe that runs across the loft space as the earth up here starts and goes nowhere.

westward10 · Oct 29, 2021

Are you saying cables like that are still in use.

Alkaline_Steely · Oct 29, 2021

westward10 said:
Are you saying cables like that are still in use.

At least 5m of it ?

7029 dave · Oct 29, 2021

Is that the cut off from the feed cable from the CU?

Alkaline_Steely · Oct 29, 2021

7029 dave said:
Is that the cut off from the feed cable from the CU?

Assuming so yes. The cable comes through the cavity into the loft then about 2m across the loft space before entering the green 4way connector block. Then new twin and earth does all the rooms. There’s all sorts of lengths of this up here. Chopped up. Some just L and N and other bits line-switched line

westward10 · Oct 29, 2021

Alkaline_Steely said:
At least 5m of it ?

That cable is totally shot and incorporates no cpc (earth). I would strongly recommend you get an electrician on board to assess the condition of your installation.

littlespark · Oct 29, 2021

I think we can “assess the condition” from here.

ruston · Oct 29, 2021

I have an image of a crumbling cable lying on a bone dry lime lath ceiling just waiting for ... someone to clear it away first..

7029 dave · Oct 29, 2021

As above, if it were me I would not be re-energising that circuit until you have had an electrician in. judging by the state of that cable if the rubber cables are still in service, its going to need rewiring, am surprised when you purchased the property that they didnt recommend a condition report of the installation?.
Hold off on the decorating for now till the electrics have been addressed.