Getting 10v on Steel Capping

[impish15]

Hi All

Recently bought a wandering lead and was practicing with it on a few of my relative houses checking if metal sockets / fittings / appliances had continuity etc and also checked 0v on some of the fittings. Couple of items with no continuity (CPC popped out at the back so re-terminated)

At one of the house there was exposed galvanised steel capping from the consumer unit up to the ceiling and I got a reading of 10v.

I couldn’t do any further investigation as I had to leave. Relatives are away currently so house is unoccupied.

What is the best way to tackle this? I was planning on removing the capping (obviously with power turned off) to see where the 10v could be coming from (possibly damaged cable insulation?). Once issue rectified replaced the steel capping with plastic trucking. Does this seem like a reasonable approach? Any other tests I can do? Test instruments I could use to assist me?

Also is steel capping usually exposed? I thought they were generally covered over when plastering.

Many thanks in advance

 

[LastManOnline]

Q: How would you go about distinguishing between:
A) 10V ghost voltage relative to earth, on a piece of capping that is genuinely floating, i.e. not in contact with any conductors, and
B) 10V relative to earth, on the same piece of capping that has come into solid contact with a conductor 10V from earth, e.g. where a fixing has hit a neutral conductor.

10V relative to earth would produce some arcing when a wire is connected between the capping and earth.

When the same procedure is carried out with a 10V ghost voltage no arcing should occur

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I really aimed that question at the OP who is a trainee. Good to see some old hardware still in use though.

 

[7029 dave]

Still got my 500V analogue IR meter, came out last year for some fault finding.

 

[davesparks]

10V relative to earth would produce some arcing when a wire is connected between the capping and earth.

When the same procedure is carried out with a 10V ghost voltage no arcing should occur

I'd be interested to see the RAMS for that test procedure!

 

[telectrix]

I'd be interested to see the RAMS for that test procedure!

 

[telectrix]

 

[littlespark]

Not having much luck there, Tel….

 

[telectrix]

WORKS ON YOUTUBE. bloody caps lock

 

[Aaron b]

Would it be fair to assume the linked neutral would trip an rcbo?