Help with consumer unit

[DurhamSparky]

doing a few checks on a customer CU today and i got my continuity meter on the top of the MCB with power off and got continuity between every MCB bar 1....!!!

also got continuty on N bar to earth Bar!!!

not looking good is it!!!

any suggestions..!!

power isolates ok on all circuits apart from down lights and down sockets which seem to have a "LINK" in them!! as i need to kill both 6 & 32 breakers!!

 

[Sintra]

Alot more investigation required then.

Are you planning to change the cu?

 

[nickblake]

Try the ones you suspect of being linked turn all off then just the 2 on the switch the one off and see if its live on the MCB that off

 

[pennywise]

Is it a PME supply?

 

[DurhamSparky]

supply is TT on initial investigation but will need to look bit closer to see if its been changed to PME as the Power Poles in the street that the DNO use have earth spikes and associated cable enclosures running down on them... customer wants a full PIR doing so its not a problem as can gather all deatails then, it was one of them oh while your here Jobs...!

yes the top of MCB is Live when supply disconnected to all MCB apart from them , tried the 1 mcb at time as well and still get power back to the dead MCB!! scary stuff if you think that its been isolated..!

i just cant understand why every MCB bar 1 gives me a continuity reading when they isolate ok with MCB turned off..! (bar lights and sockets as mentioned).


No not planning to change the CU customer just wants to see if its safe as only been living there 2 years and obviously he has the welfare of his wife and kids to think about..! the faults he told me about were diagnosed by his dad retired electrician when changing light fittings etc.. he noticed the lights did not isolate so just killed the main switch..!

 

[bugsy]

Bit of clarification, are you saying that with the mains isolator off and each mcb off you get cont between each breaker N baR and MET

 

[DurhamSparky]

hi bugsy,

EVERY one of my 7 MCBs is turned OFF!! including the mains Isolator 100a DP and i still get a continuity reading on my LIVEs and Also Live to Earth and Neutral...!!!

some thing not right...! i used my volt / continuity tester rather than my meter so i cant give you any readings.. (i did check the tester as i thought it may have gone hay wire but nope all checked out ok on a off cut of t&e

like i say im going back one day when the customer agrees to pay me to investigate further as it puzzled me..!