Kitchen sockets not working anymore

[DefyG]

who is right and wrong about the information given about this no continuity of Line/Neutral/CPC conductors for the ring final circuit in kitchen sockets?

Just picked up on this thread and sounds like whoever may have worked on the circuit 8/9 years ago was wrong by leaving an open circuit RFC (Hence 2 cables still in same circuit breaker at CU), and should have been de-rated at that time.
Whilst having 2 cables at the same circuit breaker implies it could be a RFC but often (too often especially after sub standard work by kitchen fitters/DIY) RFC's are often left 'open circuit'.
Assuming it to be a RFC, the initial tests for continuity at the CU would prove it to be an open circuit RFC.
Subsequent testing would prove it to be a radial circuit and I can only think the S/FCU was installed when it was a RFC for compliance when wiring more than one socket from a RFC. If a radial had been established beforehand this would have been unnecessary.
Someone switching off the S/FCU (which you may want to change for an US/FCU to prevent happening again) would initially show as an open circuit for the part of the radial circuit downstream from there.

 

[littlespark]

It’s starting to sound like the switched fuses have been connected wrong.

If all the switches are on, do all the sockets work ok?

I’m thinking some doughnut has mixed up the supply and the load…. So when the switch is off, it cuts the ring open… creating 2 radials.
Same mistake at another switch would cut out a section of the ring completely.

I think I mentioned earlier that every socket (and appliance switch) needs disconnected and every cable on the circuit tested to map out what goes where.

Yes, of course someone might have left an inaccessible joint box somewhere…. We can’t know for sure… but I’m thinking along the lines of it being wired correctly, but simply connected wrong.

 

[mainline]

It’s starting to sound like the switched fuses have been connected wrong.

If all the switches are on, do all the sockets work ok?

There are 4 isolator switches in the kitchen and three were turned off. He turned them back on and all sockets are now working.

 

[mainline]

It sounds like it was originally a ring final with 4 Fcu for drops to the appliances.

A bit of diy later and its now a radial.

If there is still 2 legs at the consumer unit then it needs investigating whether 1 of the legs is still supplying anything at all.

 

[Jock from the north]

It’s starting to sound like the switched fuses have been connected wrong.

If all the switches are on, do all the sockets work ok?

I’m thinking some doughnut has mixed up the supply and the load…. So when the switch is off, it cuts the ring open… creating 2 radials.
Same mistake at another switch would cut out a section of the ring completely.

I think I mentioned earlier that every socket (and appliance switch) needs disconnected and every cable on the circuit tested to map out what goes where.

Yes, of course someone might have left an inaccessible joint box somewhere…. We can’t know for sure… but I’m thinking along the lines of it being wired correctly, but simply connected wrong.

I would bet that's what the problem is.someone has tested the ring continuity with switchs in the on position ,happy days the bell tester beeps

 

[brianmoooore]

Ideally, this needs an experienced and competent electrician to go through the whole circuit, working out where each cable goes and connects to what, so as to be sure whether the 32A MCB needs to be replaced with a lower rated one, whether the circuit loading is suitable for that, and to ensure that there aren't any connected cables where the location of the other end is unknown.

 

[mainline]

Just wondering if wired wrongly how it would account for the lack of CPC which I assume he now has with the fcus on.

 

[Jock from the north]

Just wondering if wired wrongly how it would account for the lack of CPC which I assume he now has with the fcus on.

Good point

 

[littlespark]

Just wondering if wired wrongly how it would account for the lack of CPC which I assume he now has with the fcus on.

We're obviously looking for more than one fault here.....

But who actually told him there was a lack of cpc? one of the "electricians" that hasn't fixed the problem yet?

 

[mainline]

We're obviously looking for more than one fault here.....

How is there, obviously 2 faults ?

It looks to me to be a now Radial circuit with 4 FCUs feeding 3 socket outlets and a cooker hood.

These 3 sockets fcus were turned off by someone else other than the electricians.

But who actually told him there was a lack of cpc? one of the "electricians" that hasn't fixed the problem yet?

The first electrician said : there is no continuity of Line/Neutral/CPC conductors for the ring final circuit in kitchen sockets.

 

[brianmoooore]

It's now a radial circuit with at least two branches from source (the circuit breaker in the CU), but given that the original 32A breaker (confirming it was originally a RFC?) was left in place, when it shouldn't have been, who knows if the radials are of an acceptable design and whether or not there are unterminated live ends somewhere?
The whole lot needs a thorough checking over.