No ring continuity on phase conductor

[davepmorris]

i am replacing a consumer unit, and whilst testing the downstairs ring i discover there is no continuity on the phase conductor but there is continuity on the neutral and earth. can i simply make it into 2 radials? or try and find where the break in the continuity is? obviously its not certain whether the fault is accessible so it maybe a waste of my time trying to find the break in continuity.

 

[Octopus]

If you can't locate the break, then how are you going to determine where to make the ring 2 radials?

Simple answer is to start breaking the ring in half, in half etc until you find the offending "connection". Yes it'll take time but you'll get there.

 

[tony mc]

Do a little testing you need to find the fault.

You should be able to find the fault by dead testing connecting line to cpc

Split the ring at the CU and at a midway socket outlet and put them on ther own ccts. Go around and test at each socket until you find a dead one and you will be somewhere near the break.

Find out which one is feeding the line to it and the berak will either be at one of the socket outlets or a joint box but you will have to do a little investigation.

 

[nickblake]

easiest and quickest way i find to do it is to , disconnect the tails from the circuit join the L and cpc to gether on one leg and then do a continuity test at each socket till you find the open circuit then check that socket basically an R1 & R2 test at each socket

 

[mart8235]

Could be really simple like a phase popped out of the connection in a socket so there could be a dangerous situation if you don't investigate further.

Do as Murdoch suggests and you'll find it eventually.

 

[lloyd1980]

yeah id say 2 radials,, depends where the break is tho and how big the propertyy is, as in if the break is on the leg 2ft from the CU and the other radial covers the whole house then no
depends where it is mate

 

[Octopus]

Its probably a loose connection on the back of a socket/fcu - don't hurry into splitting rings into spurs!

 

[mogga]

had same quick look at sockets found one line scored when stripped had broken Sorted running into radials is recipie for disaster what would happen if leaves an open live end?