Disconnected neutral wire from shower MCB in CU

[Devon Dawdler]

Good evening!

Recently, after a friend’s shower stopped working, an electrician allegedly disconnected the neutral wire inside the CU, to make the shower safe and isolate the circuit. Subsequently another electrician on visiting the house, unaware of this method (if it even exists!?) concluded that the shower itself was faulty and needed replacing. Consequently, the shower was replaced, but obviously didn’t work, and then having carried out a thorough check of the circuit, did he discover that the neutral wire in the CU was disconnected from the MCB.

And on opening up the new CU, which was only fitted a month before, it was apparent that the connections were hastily attached with copper wire showing protruding above the MCB connections and not neatly looped round as is (from what I understand) good practice. Indeed it seemed as though the wires from the old fuse box weren’t adjusted, but just forced into their new housings, and in all probability not attached with the appropriate torque settings!

So, could I ask if this is an acceptable method of isolating the shower circuit, and if it’s not there was it a potentially dangerous situation to have a loose neutral wire in the CU.

Any help much appreciated.

John

 

[Devon Dawdler]

And the what exactly is 'acting accordingly'?

Sorry Dave, what I meant by that, is contact whichever electrician my friend wants me to get in touch with. Obviously not do anything myself as a non qualified person.

 

[timhoward]

Recently, after a friend’s shower stopped working, an electrician allegedly disconnected the neutral wire inside the CU, to make the shower safe and isolate the circuit. Subsequently another electrician on visiting the house, unaware of this method (if it even exists!?) concluded that the shower itself was faulty and needed replacing. Consequently, the shower was replaced, but obviously didn’t work, and then having carried out a thorough check of the circuit, did he discover that the neutral wire in the CU was disconnected from the MCB.

Being honest this all sounds like a series of red herrings to me.
The original sparks disconnected shower for a reason, presumably because they had grounds to believe it was faulty or dangerous.
The 2nd sparks fitted a new shower and after some confusion made it work.
Good result?

Without before and after photographs you're never going to prove the 1st sparks did anything wrong, and it sounds as though the 2nd sparks could be criticised for lack of testing before and after attempting to energise the shower circuit.

I don't see what any further action can achieve, other than getting someone competent to check over and tidy up that consumer unit a bit.

 

[Devon Dawdler]

Being honest this all sounds like a series of red herrings to me.
The original sparks disconnected shower for a reason, presumably because they had grounds to believe it was faulty or dangerous.
The 2nd sparks fitted a new shower and after some confusion made it work.
Good result?

Without before and after photographs you're never going to prove the 1st sparks did anything wrong, and it sounds as though the 2nd sparks could be criticised for lack of testing before and after attempting to energise the shower circuit.

I don't see what any further action can achieve, other than getting someone competent to check over and tidy up that consumer unit a bit.

 

[Devon Dawdler]

Thanks, Tim. What you say makes sense.

 

[mainline]

Thanks, Tim. What you say makes sense.

It’s quite common for an electrician to criticise another’s work as you will rarely get everything perfect.

 

[mainline]

Thanks, Tim. What you say makes sense.

It’s quite common for an electrician to criticise another’s work as you will rarely get everything perfect.