New Consumer Unit Installation - L&N Reverse at the sockets

[Pete999]

Corrected that for you...

Thank you Murdoch, kind of you.

 

[Midwest]

Vol, do you have a snap shot of the 'Circuit Details' and the 'Test Instrument Used'?

PS good that the dangerous fault has now been rectified. Its a shame your electrician didn't do all the form filling in and testing in the first place.

Can you provide those snap shots Vol?

 

[Midwest]

I've been reading the posts again, and just read Tel's at #116. 'the tails entering the CU appear to be hard up against the metalwork. where's the grommet', I can't see any grommet strip either, but that's a simple fix.

However whilst studying that picture, I can't see the earthing conductor (difficult to tell from the pic) entering the enclosure through the same cable entry as the tails, it should do, but again a simple fix. My only concern is I can't really see an earthing conductor in the CU (again, difficult to tell from the pic). It look as if the service head is somewhere above the CU, do you have a pic of that Vol?

Did you find out about the Building Warrants?

 

[Vol]

Hi Midwest, please refer to my post #135. "I've tried to show willing in response to the help I did get by showing as much info from today's resolution as I could. I'm done now." What part of "I'm done now" don't you understand?

 

[Midwest]

Hi Midwest, please refer to my post #135. "I've tried to show willing in response to the help I did get by showing as much info from today's resolution as I could. I'm done now." What part of "I'm done now" don't you understand?

Perhaps you should ask a moderator to close this thread then, save anymore members wasting their time trying to assist, and more posts which will not be replied to?

 

[Les Macaulay]

Hi, victim of a careless "electrician".
This is one of the most serious faults to have been left with you.
Do you know why?

 

[The Ghost]

What part of "I'm done now" don't you understand?

The bit about you still being involved and contributing to the conversation?

 

[delano]

Hi there, I'm a newbie to the forum. I'm an ordinary senior citizen householder but while not an electrician, I do take notice and read up on all the stuff the electricians are doing in my house. I have just had a modern, metal consumer unit installed after the removal of the old traditional fuse box. The installation went pretty well with very few curses! Given the old wiring in the house, everyone was pleasantly surprised when both RCDs stayed good and the supply uninterrupted.
As a final check before leaving, the electrician inserted a socket tester. In every location tried, the socket tester showed L&N Reverse. I bought s socket tester and confirm the same readings: L&N Reverse. I haven't checked every single socket but that is the pattern.
One problem is that I have no way of telling if the old fuse box situation would have given the same L&N Reverse readings, ie did the electrician change anything or just carry on an existing (hidden) error?
Firstly, is this in any way a dangerous situation given the RCDs are quite happy? If dangerous, what should be done immediately?
Secondly, how could this reversal have occurred? The electrician simply reinserted the live and neutral cables appropriately as they were removed. The meter tails were changed cos the existing were only 16mm. Could the tails have been reversed somehow?
Anything else you guys can suggest?
Thanks for reading the newbie panic post! I would appreciate any input, thanks..

I had this scenario after doing a full inspection and testing of a property last month. The test results were good and I installed a new split amendment 3 CCU. I then did some tests after the install and noticed I had L-N reversal at all sockets. I then rechecked my wiring/polarity at the board; all good. I eventually established that one of the main RCD'S was faulty. Considering it was brand new, I was surprised by this. The board was an MK Sentry,brand new. Theses boards are being sold at a much cheaper price than their main competitors but I won't be buying them anymore.

 

[telectrix]

I had this scenario after doing a full inspection and testing of a property last month. The test results were good and I installed a new split amendment 3 CCU. I then did some tests after the install and noticed I had L-N reversal at all sockets. I then rechecked my wiring/polarity at the board; all good. I eventually established that one of the main RCD'S was faulty. Considering it was brand new, I was surprised by this. The board was an MK Sentry,brand new. Theses boards are being sold at a much cheaper price than their main competitors but I won't be buying them anymore.

try the BG boards. similar price to MK, but better quality and better looking. ( a bit like me, i suppose ).

 

[Pete999]

I had this scenario after doing a full inspection and testing of a property last month. The test results were good and I installed a new split amendment 3 CCU. I then did some tests after the install and noticed I had L-N reversal at all sockets. I then rechecked my wiring/polarity at the board; all good. I eventually established that one of the main RCD'S was faulty. Considering it was brand new, I was surprised by this. The board was an MK Sentry,brand new. Theses boards are being sold at a much cheaper price than their main competitors but I won't be buying them anymore.

What was the fault on the RCD?

 

[delano]

I've had issues with BG boards as well. I only use quality brands now. More expensive but at least I have more confidence when installing and no call backs or complaints from clients.

try the BG boards. similar price to MK, but better quality and better looking. ( a bit like me, i suppose ).

 

[delano]

What was the fault on the RCD?

No tripping at x 5

 

[Pete999]

No tripping at x 5

Thanks Mate sorry if I have missed something, just got me wondering what does failing the trip test have to do with reversed polarity?

 

[delano]

Thanks Mate sorry if I have missed something, just got me wondering what does failing the trip test have to do with reversed polarity?

Normally, nothing but it indicated a faulty RCD. Internally, it caused a L-N fault, also caused supply voltage on earth.

 

[Pete999]

Normally, nothing but it indicated a faulty RCD. Internally, it caused a L-N fault, also caused supply voltage on earth.

Agree the non trip would indicate a duff RCD the other faults you mention, I'm not so sure.