Missing Earth???

[sl1210]

Hi guys,

On a job in a flat today i found all the sockets in the kitchen above worktop have no earth whatsoever. Basically they are new metal backboxes and all they have is 2.5mm singles in plastic conduit running to the new positions. Now I'm guessing the line and neutral are coming from one of the original sockets at low level behind a kitchen cabinet. But that would mean causing a lot of damage to get to. The orignal sockets are earthed from the consumer unit via metal conduit.

What would you guys say is the best way to get the 6 sockets earthed. I was thinking of taking an earth fly lead from the nearest earthed socket in the lounge??? As its a ring, would it need to be 6mm???

What are your thoughts???

 

[KAS1]

Personally I'd disconnect the unearthed sockets and make safe, then price to do the job properly and continue the metal conduit system throughout and rewire. If they won't except my method I'd walk away.

 

[telectrix]

can you not fish some 4mm through the plastic conduit?

 

[sl1210]

sorry i meant to say 4mm earth, not 6mm. i'm not sure maybe on a couple but with the rest it would probably have to run in plastic mt1 surface trunking. I have left them an extension lead an told them not to use the sockets. Re-doing the conduit system isn't really an option without ripping the whole kitchen out

 

[Tiny Spark]

Can you not get any access to the original sockets at all?

 

[KAS1]

"Re-doing the conduit system isn't really an option without ripping the whole kitchen out" I don't believe that statement, do you mean a bit of hard graft lol

 

[sl1210]

no i mean the landlord wont have it.

only the one in the lounge which is just on the otherside of kitchen wall

 

[trev]

Somewhere or other you'll find where the singles originate, once found use one of the singles as a draw to pull in a replacement + a cpc. Do the same from both ends and jobs a goodun, RFC maintained and a shiny new CPC.
I'd have thought this was a blatantly obvious fix to a simple problem mate, can't understand how you didn't come up with it.
Tough day maybe?

 

[polo1]

Wot he said ^^^^^^^:drunk:

 

[sl1210]

yeah was a very long day. but like i said its probably under the worktop behind cupboards if at all. going to have to rip it all out, just to have a look. the lounge socket is accessible, which makes more sense. do you think the pirananhas are the best way to terminate the 4mm, or just self tap to the metal box

the funny thing is this has probably been unearthed for over 10 years

 

[trev]

If it's all in plastic conduit you should be able to pull in from the origin of the singles mate.
Unless I'm missing something I'm at a loss to understand the problem.

 

[sl1210]

zs tests were all showing ok as well. lesson maybe to those who skip the r1+r2

 

[sl1210]

was more asking what size cpc to try and pull in. but now know to use 4mm

 

[telectrix]

how can you get a Zs reading with no cpc?

 

[Bobster]

zs tests were all showing ok as well. lesson maybe to those who skip the r1+r2

How are you getting a Zs reading without a cpc at the sockets?