I got an electric shock

[wams]

Im getting new carpets fitted throughout the my flat and I had a couple of floor boards that are warped, so I decided to change them. I started to take up the floor boards on the landing of the hallway. I noticed 3 30A junction boxes feeding the ring consisting of 6 double sockets and 1 spur. 2 of the junction boxes have 2 red wires, 2 black wires and 2 earth wires each with no earth sleeving. The third junction box has 7 cables feeding it and all earth conductors are twist together with no sleeving.

I then decided to add earth sleeving to all bare earthing conductors but before undergoing the work I isolated the supply before commencing any work. Firstly I tuned off all electrical appliances connected to the ring. Turned off all circuit breakers at CU and turned off the main switch. As I dont have any testing equipment nor do I have any testing experience and the relevant qualification to carry out such a test. I then proceeded to open and close all lighting switches and socket outlets using a small electrical appliance to make sure no circuit was energised.

I then proceeded to disconnect the first 2 junction boxes that house 6 cables each and successfuly sleeved the earthing conductors. I then proceeded to the third as I started to untwist the earth conductors I got an electric shock. I went to the CU to double check the main switch and circuit breakers were off and they were.

Cant understand how I got a belt, puzzled! Can anyone explain what ive done wrong?

I got a new CU fitted just over a year ago with a electrical installation certificate, schedule of inspection and schedule of test results.

Thanks Wams

 

[telectrix]

a possiblity is that you were statically charged, walking on carpets, and when you touched an earth, you discharged yourself, giving rise to a mild shock.

 

[Knobhead]

To be honest it’s worth getting the junction boxes sorted professionally. As sure as eggs are eggs everything will be fine until the carpets are down. 7 cables to one box is way OTT.

 

[mogga]

Call someone in to do a full TnI and sort it out as by the sounds of it you have some potentialy BIG problems

 

[Jonesy83]

capacitor in the circuit somewhere maybe ive had a belt off a capacitor this morning it woke me up let me tell you

 

[Darkwood]

You tried to do a job that should be done with a minimum of testers and proofing kit, although as mentioned it could be just static from new carpets you still should never do any electrical work on any circuit you dont fully understand or havent installed yourself without the relevent testing equipment!.... over the years ive come across stolen supplies from next door, economy 7 timers with boost functions that if timeclocks are out will energise unexpectedly and boost can come on at 3pm for an hour in old set-ups. Multiple main switches might be an issue too as isolating main consumer unit and not isolating an adjacent small dist'bored or isolator... although we could only hazard a guess for you you havent supplied enough info to nail any solid answers.

 

[wams]

Possibly!

As the landing is central and has no carpets but which then leads to the living room and leads to a bedroom where both have carpets. I could have gradually built up a static charge over a small period of time. but i cant remember walking on the carpets for at least 30 mins prior to getting on me hands and knees.

Me new carpets get fitted on wednesday so I would like to be able to resolve the issue before then.

Thanks for your reply telectrix.

Would a voltage tester work if I applied to all conductors?

 

[Jonesy83]

Possibly!

As the landing is central and has no carpets but which then leads to the living room and leads to a bedroom where both have carpets. I could have gradually built up a static charge over a small period of time. but i cant remember walking on the carpets for at least 30 mins prior to getting on me hands and knees.

Me new carpets get fitted on wednesday so I would like to be able to resolve the issue before then.

Thanks for your reply telectrix.

Would a voltage tester work if I applied to all conductors?

if youve got to ask this then get someone in to check it as by sounds of things you have 0 experience

 

[sparc]

This sounds too obvious, but you say you're in a flat - no chance you've got a mix of your circuits and a neighbour's?

 

[Darkwood]

This sounds too obvious, but you say you're in a flat - no chance you've got a mix of your circuits and a neighbour's?

Good point sparc missed that myself... yes high probability if his flat is over someone elses flat he could have gone into there cables but again re-enforces the need for testers and the reason he shouldn't be doing this himself as the questions he asks are clearly showing he isnt competent to do so..... and if he thinks he is lets remind him this shock was a lucky escape and could have easily killed him!!! Another statistic on accidental death through stupidity.

 

[trev]

To be fair to the op guys he admitted he has no test experience or gear. Yeah twas a silly thing to do to go poking around but I reckon he's realised the error of his ways. He's a lucky lad it just told him to get off though, if it had bitten properly......

 

[Spudnik]

What you chaps are not doing is reading the OP properly.

 

[wams]

Lesson well and truly learned. Everydays a school day. (more experienced needed)

And yes your right Trev1 I do live in an upstairs flat and that junction box does more than likely belong to to down stairs. Ive been downstairs to speak to the neighbor to see if her circuit breaker or RCD has tripped, no-one in but the lights are on and TV is on stanby and both external PIR's work.

I did take Mogga's advice and called a local electrician and explained my circumstance and he advised that I messed around with the lower flats junction box and he was never critical as some of you mind. But its histrory now, lets move on.

Many thanks for your distinguished professionalism and contribution!

 

[sparc]

I did take Mogga's advice and called a local electrician and explained my circumstance and he advised that I messed around with the lower flats junction box and he was never critical as some of you mind. But its histrory now, lets move on.

The clue is in the invoice! :wink5:

Glad to hear you're sorted.

 

[Darkwood]

Sometimes we can be over-critical as we do get other lets say non-electricians on and sometimes the harshness is needed as a reality check that the shock received could have been a whole lot worse, but although you took what you thought were precautions and steps to reduce risk you still fell foul and as you now realise testers are not always the protection and safe gaurd you need to stay safe but a good understanding of electrical layouts in various set-up i.e... as in your situe multiple circuits from 2 sources in same floor board system.
You will be pleased in a sense to know that this does catch out alot of ppl trained or not, you can imagine holding a tested dead wire and then your downstairs neighbour turns her light on and wham!! the failure in this case is inexperience and forsight to the set-up but from your replies it seems you've established your own limits and abilities.