116v at lights

[DJ Electrician]

Hi

This is my first post and just a little background info I completed level 2 and 3 at college (full time) and have got a job with an electrical contractor in Southampton, I dont think I'm 'properly' qualified until Ive done a couple of years out on site but I'm getting there.

Anyway, I wanted to practice testing etc at home and did earth fault loop impedance on a few of my lights, some tested fine and a few wouldn't test, I flicked the meter on to volts and it was measuring 116v (using 3 lead) so I tested between line and neutral and measured 230v but between line and earth just 60v.

What would cause something like this, I'm guessing a poor earth connection (high resistance) but not certain hence my question?

Thought I'd add to this it was the same with lamp in and out

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Clearly no earth....as you've already worked out....

 

[DJ Electrician]

the voltage readings confused me, 116v using the 3 lead meter, then 60v L-E.

Why was the EFLI meter reading 116v?

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Hi DJ, When you connect a 3 lead meter to L-E-N and the E is floating, your meter effective creates a potential divider of equal value impedances across the supply, hence the volt drop across either impedance is approximately half the supply volts and this is what you have measured, 230/2 = 115V, virtually the 116V your meter indicated.

 

[pblec]

what was your dead test, R1R2 or R2 or even your Zs

you may posibly be using the meter wrong, before we can start fault finding.