Eli on faulty circuit

[joey]

I was called to a property where the customer said a socket was not working.

I tested the socket, took an eli. Socket working...

CU was 17th edition so as a matter of course did an rcd test, nothing..
Went back to CU realised someone had replaced the rcd with a main switch; hence why rcd test failed.

Advised customer could either refit an rcd or could provide rcbos.
Cust agreed. Revisited with said materials; reason for change to main switch becomes apparent. Neutral earth fault on sockets earths pulled out of board.

(Fault- neutral has dropped out of socket in bedroom and is touching the metal box) Some sc...bag sorry someone has fixed the problem for her alright pulling earths out.and taking rcd out.

Anyway to get the point; How did I get an ELI at the kitchen socket on the previous visit.

a) parallel paths - earth has been picked up elsewhere and carried back to the board.
b) The neutral that has dropped out of the socket onto the back box has meant i have not taken an eli but the earth has travelled back up the neutral/earth fault and in essence done a l-n fault loop not a l-e loop.

or either/both??

Thanks

 

[joey]

Sorry it seems to have missed the
hi guys !!
hope someone can help from the top

 

[guest119]

Guys n gals on here Joey.

Boydy

 

[Richard Burns]

Welcome to the forum.

It is unlikely that you would have a parallel path from a socket circuit to use as an earth unless the boiler (or other water using equipment) is wired into the circuit.
However if you have a low resistance earth neutral fault then that would be the same as having an earth and the reading would show as OK, after all (if PME) the Neutral and earth are connected just back of the meter.