neutral earth continuity

[sparks1653]

Hi everyone. i was helping/learning on a job today where the company was installing a new 3 phase distribution board in a shop. they isolated the incoming cable (incomer had an isolating switch as was a submain) and installed the new board. i was being shown how to test it and got some readings i saw that i dont understand.

with supply dead there was continuity between earth and neutral, and also got 0.00 on an insulation resistance reading between neutral and earth. could someone explain this to me please?

 

[Knobhead]

Some isolators have a solid link for the neutral. Was the link removed? If not there’s your answer. If it was then “happy hunting”.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

If the installation is TN-C-S, the earth and neutral are linked.
As Tony has said, if the neutral is not disconnected by the main switch, you will have continuity, unless you disconnect either the main earth or the neutral.
You should not really be conducting an IR test between conductors that have continuity.
You an also have continuity between earth and neutral on TN-S installations, as often the rest of the network may be TN-C-S, and continuty may be via another installation.

 

[Knobhead]

No matter what the earthing system is you will get N-E continuity unless the neutral link is removed.

 

[Knobhead]

Unless it's IT

 

[sparks1653]

thanks guys. seemed like a silly question i know but saw so many different things my head was scrambled after yesterday!