N-E ring main...HELP!!! please!

[gedberm]

Hi all,

Long story shortened:
In a Terrace, next door blew his fuse (big bang and sparks apparently) and it tripped our leccy too. His came back on once he'd changed fuse, ours didn't - RCD wouldn't reset.
Power Co came out and put the earth cable over to the neutral - result? RCD reset but put more than 2 lights and one plug socket on and it'd trip.
Next visit from Power co, went thru board and managed to get every circuit working apart from ring main (they're not sure how, just removed wires and refitted them).
As they now think it's an internal problem (can't see it being anything else really) it's now down to me. They've left it with ring main wiring removed completely from box.
I've removed any spurs that I can get to/identify and all appliances. I've checked the neutral connection to each socket but as soon as the neutral is dabbed on the neutral bar in the box it trips the RCD.

Apologies for the incorrect terminologies etc....would appreciate any suggestions as this is causing major problems!!!
Many thanks, Ged

 

[gedberm]

Re: N-L ring main...HELP!!! please!

D'oh, sorry: heading should be N-E!!!!!!

 

[rocker]

Re: N-L ring main...HELP!!! please!

You HAVE to get a qualified electrician to have a look at this I'm afraid. Without proper test epuipment you'll be on a hiding to nothing and could be putting yourself at danger. What area are you in, maybe someone on here can have a look for you?

 

[gedberm]

Re: N-L ring main...HELP!!! please!

In Blackwood, South Wales

 

[Spudnik]

Re: N-L ring main...HELP!!! please!

d'oh, sorry: Heading should be n-e!!!!!!

ftfy.

 

[rocker]

I'm in Newport..... but I've had a drink I'm afraid. Pretty busy in the week as well, I might be able to have a quick look at some point.

 

[gedberm]

Hi Rocker,

Don't worry, didn't expect anyone to come out tonite! Managing with extension leads for most stuff from the utility room (not on ring main) so can live with it (very) short term.

 

[Electricalserv]

When you replace the neutral to the bar is everything unplugged?

 

[gedberm]

When you replace the neutral to the bar is everything unplugged?

Yes, nothing at all plugged in. There seems to be a spur for the central heating - that's also disconnected.

 

[Des 56]

Where in Blackwood ?
I'm working there monday morning,if your not sorted by then,I may be able to pop in and have a look

Its a little unusual to suddenly develop a neutral rearth fault because of a problem with an adjascent property
Those tripping problems were one of the reasons RCds superceded the voltage operated elcbs

Is your installation newish,old,or very old

Also trying to understand what is meant by
Power Co came out and put the earth cable over to the neutral - result? RCD reset
Something doesn't seem right with that statement

 

[Engineer54]

How old is that RCD you have there?? Not saying that it is a problem with your RCD, but there is a possibility that some of the let through current from your neighbours blow out damaged your RCD. Do you know if the Leccy board guys tested your RCD??

 

[gedberm]

Des, I'll send you a pm with the address - can't see it being done by then sadly :-(

"Also trying to understand what is meant by
Power Co came out and put the earth cable over to the neutral - result? RCD reset
Something doesn't seem right with that statement"

TBH, the 2nd lot who came out couldn't understand why he'd done it either: from what I understand, we have an earth cable coming into the property, he removed the cable between that and the earth bar and put it over to the neutral cable connection coming into the property.

 

[Electricalserv]

Des, I'll send you a pm with the address - can't see it being done by then sadly :-(

"Also trying to understand what is meant by
Power Co came out and put the earth cable over to the neutral - result? RCD reset
Something doesn't seem right with that statement"

TBH, the 2nd lot who came out couldn't understand why he'd done it either: from what I understand, we have an earth cable coming into the property, he removed the cable between that and the earth bar and put it over to the neutral cable connection coming into the property.

Changed from a TNS to TNC-S, I still don't understand whats being said really?

 

[gedberm]

How old is that RCD you have there?? Not saying that it is a problem with your RCD, but there is a possibility that some of the let through current from your neighbours blow out damaged your RCD. Do you know if the Leccy board guys tested your RCD??

Doesn't look particularly old - think it's younger than the box tho (!), in answer to Des's q

The Leccy board guys tested it as I would...i.e. pressing the test switch - no more technical stuff than that!

 

[Engineer54]

Sounds like you had the DNO's top ''A'' team out on your installation mate...lol!!