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]

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

Haha, you ain't kidding! lol

 

[Engineer54]

Can't believe they earthed the neutral with a TN-S sheathed earth, let alone not thoroughly test the RCD, Pressing the test button only proves the mechanical side of things on the RCD.....

 

[gedberm]

Can't believe they earthed the neutral with a TN-S sheathed earth, let alone not thoroughly test the RCD, Pressing the test button only proves the mechanical side of things on the RCD.....

That's what I was thinking.....the RCD bit that is, I ain't leccy-savvy enough to know about the 1st bit, lol.

 

[Des 56]

The Rcd will be a less likely candidate for the cause of the problem, if the sockets that now supply the loads are protected by that rcd

If the loads are Rcd protected at the moment off that circuit, then the problem will almost definitely be elswhere,

 

[gedberm]

^^^^ wot 'e sayed! ;-)

 

[DurhamSparky]

must have been N-E fault day yesterday!! lol

 

[gedberm]

Many, many thanks to Des for coming round and carrying out various tests. I am now, at Des's suggestion, attempting to locate the JB that should exist under the floorboards on the landing.

Will keep y'all posted

 

[Engineer54]

Seem's very strange to me, that there wasn't a problem with this ring circuit before next doors main fuse blew!!!

 

[morph]

given that the circuit was fine until the property next door had a blow out and then the DNO have done something we are not sure of but involved the neutral , then it seems likely that the two may be connected.
were one of you nicking leccy of the other ;-)

 

[gedberm]

were one of you nicking leccy of the other ;-)

*sharp intake of breath* The very notion!!!!...No, sadly not adept enough to work out how to do that.....Leccy board checked his supply too so I don't think he's half-inching mine but I guess we can't rely on their judgment