Kitchen sockets issue.

easilec · Jun 3, 2016

Hi all, can I ask if anyone has ever had a problem like this.
i was called to a property tonight, the tenant had turned on their kettle and it had switched off at boiling point but continued to boil.
They have tried 4 other kettles and they've all done the same thing.
ive tested the circuit, a 16A radial for the kitchen, and there is nothing unusual.
However there is no earth to the property, I was unable to gain a Ze reading.
i'm returning tomorrow to install an earth rod but will this solve the problem?

This is a new problem to me.
If anyone could shed any light I'd be massively grateful.

James

Octopus · Jun 3, 2016

Really?

No earth at all?

Not sure how no earth would make a kettle continue to boil after switching off

easilec · Jun 3, 2016

No, no earth.

im not saying this is the cause, only an observation I made while fault finding.

davesparks · Jun 3, 2016

Methinks someone is taking the weewee

Octopus · Jun 3, 2016

easilec said:
No, no earth.

im not saying this is the cause, only an observation I made while fault finding.

I

What is the incoming supply type?

easilec · Jun 3, 2016

Tns......

andyb · Jun 3, 2016

Murdoch said:
What is the incoming supply type?

Tea Tea

sparksburnout · Jun 3, 2016

All electrical work undertaken, no job too big or too small. Fully qualified electrician. Customers got 4 kettles. TNS supply but I,m going to put an earth rod in. Don't humour the guy any more please.

telectrix · Jun 3, 2016

OP. easy solution. take the frigging kettle/s off the gas hob.

7029 dave · Jun 3, 2016

Murdoch said:
Really?

No earth at all?

Not sure how no earth would make a kettle continue to boil after switching off

Nothing to do with it. But he's going to whack a rod in anyway on a tns.

sparksburnout · Jun 3, 2016

telectrix said:
OP. easy solution. take the frigging kettle/s off the gas hob.

Hahahaha brilliant

HandySparks · Jun 3, 2016

Did you actually see this kettle problem demonstrated?

If so, what testing did you do on the kettle(s)?

davesparks · Jun 3, 2016

easilec said:
Tns......

If it is an TNS supply then it must have an earth connection. There's not much point going through the hassle of setting up a decent earth electrode network when you've got an earth connection supplied!

Unless of course your idea of an earth electrode is a single rod with a ridiculously high Ra?

HandySparks · Jun 3, 2016

Where, exactly, did you attach your test leads when trying to measure the Zs?

Which test instrument did you use and what did it show on the display?

NDG Elecs · Jun 4, 2016

I had a customer once tell me their iron would never heat up properly when plugged in to one particular socket, but everything else worked fine on this socket. Tested fine, conclusion do-lally customer!

Have you seen at least two of these kettles continuing to boil? If only word of mouth then the customer is probably mad, if you have then it's witchcraft and best to get the duck out of there!

Edit: the lack of any earthing probably points to witchcraft also.

NDG Elecs · Jun 4, 2016

andyb said:
Tea Tea

Haha, didn't get that immediately!

Andy78 · Jun 4, 2016

Sounds like heaven to me, a customer with a perpetually boiling kettle. Does that even need fixing ?

NDG Elecs · Jun 4, 2016

Andy78 said:
Sounds like heaven to me, a customer with a perpetually boiling kettle. Does that even need fixing ?

Think of all those biscuits, must go through 30 packs of custard creams a week!

mitchsparks · Jun 4, 2016

Faulty kettle? Or faulty customer?

sparksburnout · Jun 4, 2016

mitchsparks said:
Faulty kettle? Or faulty customer?

Or faulty sparky?

Pete999 · Jun 4, 2016

Or a windup got to be, no earth so I'll bang in a n earth rod.

HappyHippyDad · Jun 4, 2016

If you have only tested 4 kettles you will not have accurate results, you need to test a further 6 kettles, install the earth rod and then you should be able to make a brew.

Risteard · Jun 7, 2016

TheGayOwl said:
I had a customer once tell me their iron would never heat up properly when plugged in to one particular socket, but everything else worked fine on this socket. Tested fine, conclusion do-lally customer!

I'd have probably just replaced the socket for them (for a fee) and told them that the problem was fixed. Otherwise they won't believe you that there's nothing wrong.