Code for borrowed neutral...

[bilbo_88]

Carrying out an EICR and have discovered a lighting circuit has a borrowed neutral from ring main. No RCD as its old 3036 fuses but have a disagreement with my colleague who believes it should only be a C3 for improvement recommended. I was almost certain it be flagged as a C2. Anyone able to voice opinion (and who owes who a beer!)

 

[GLENNSPARK]

alright grumpy, make sure you get out of the right side of that bed tomorrow! lol

I'll be the first to admit not testing between neutral and neutral and neutral at every light fitting i've changed.

IMO code 2
In your opinion code 3
I'm happy with that

oh come on......
its neither is it.....
what you do is note it......
and move on..
and whats this `testing at every point` thing n all...where shared neutrals are concerned.....
just do it at the board....IR between em......that`l find it....if its there....

 

[Guest55]

evr heard of a safe iso?...
just stop it now will ya....

well if you only disconnect the lighting circuit your working on then safe isolation proceedures arent going to help you as you wont notice the borrowed neutral open circuit until you seperate the wiring at a connection point.
its code 2 all day long for exactly the reasons somerset gave.

 

[markc123]

314 of the regs...division of installation. Especially 314.4

Now the debate is going to be, the regs are non-stat / use common sense.

My opinion is my opinion, you're entitled to youres. Lets leave it at that, so this doesn't turn into another argument on this forum over the matter of opinion.

 

[mickytuff]

it is a code 2, this is the code for this particular situation. :77:

 

[somersetsparks]

Yes I know what a borrowed neutral is thank you; what I don't understand is why people are suggesting the lighting circuit would be safer if the neutral were run separately from the same board.

sorry not trying to patronise mate... just didn't read the OP properly where it said about being borrowed from a socket

 

[gazzaabc]

314 of the regs...division of installation. Especially 314.4

Now the debate is going to be, the regs are non-stat / use common sense.

Yea u read the regs that are non-stat and ill read the test certificate that explains when a code 1 and 2 should be given. But ok let's leave it as a matter of opinion

 

[somersetsparks]

oh come on......
its neither is it.....
what you do is note it......
and move on..
and whats this `testing at every point` thing n all...where shared neutrals are concerned.....
just do it at the board....IR between em......that`l find it....if its there....

You've misunderstood me, what i mean is that I don't check for a borrowed neiutral everytime I have to change a light fitting,
As for meggering between them at the board - only if all switches are in on position and both mcb's are on in fuseboard, in fact its easy to miss by meggering

 

[GLENNSPARK]

well if you only disconnect the lighting circuit your working on then safe isolation proceedures arent going to help you as you wont notice the borrowed neutral open circuit until you seperate the wiring at a connection point.
its code 2 all day long for exactly the reasons somerset gave.

what a load of old donkey cak this is....
so you conduct an EICR.....and the next guy comes along and sees the previous report......capish...
....

 

[Silly Sausage]

the issue with a borrowed neutral is that its virtually harmless to the installations user but can gave a spark a nasty wake-up if they're caught unawares.

That's the line I was thinking along.
You is too sensible sometimes to be the official troll, demotion or another ban is in order...

 

[GLENNSPARK]

what the bloody hell is a 2 for a start eh?....DANGEROUS UNDER FAULT CONDITIONS.......jesus wept...

 

[Guest55]

what a load of old donkey cak this is....
so you conduct an EICR.....and the next guy comes along and sees the previous report......capish...
....

is that it ?
a load of stroppy flannel ?
come back when your prepared to debate properly.

 

[somersetsparks]

what the bloody hell is a 2 for a start eh?....DANGEROUS UNDER FAULT CONDITIONS.......jesus wept...

Code 2 is POTENTIAL DANGER

A borrowed neutral could be potentially dangerous,

I'd go as far as saying its a textbook example of a code 2

 

[Guest55]

what the bloody hell is a 2 for a start eh?....DANGEROUS UNDER FAULT CONDITIONS.......jesus wept...

well if you want to shout about it ;

GO AND LOOK AT THE ESC DEFINITION OF CODE 2
" POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS"

IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT ONLY UNDER FAULT CONDITIONS

get your facts straight next time glenn before gobbing off.

 

[ste77]

This is why all faults dont have pre determined codes, every situation and deviation from the regs are down to the inspectors discretion, but if i had to stand in a court of law and be asked how i came to my decision (not just on borrowed neutrals but other faults too) then i would want to err on the side of safety.

 

[mickytuff]

i give up........:banghead: