Outside lighting circuit Question

[telectrix]

R2 = >2000 ohms.
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if that,s correct, you've got an O/C cpc.

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[sambotc]

Yep, which is why I have disconnected it, but how did I get a Zs ?

 

[sambotc]

The penny has just dropped, there must have been a path back to earth from the cable underground which was in a duct/pipe/conduit.

This was full of water,mud and muck,so I am guessing it would have tracked back to earth and would explain the high resistance?!

Thoughts welcome ....

 

[sambotc]

Anyone, does this seem like a logical explanation? Defiantly open circuit end to end, so unless my 3 lead metrel has been playing funny games, the only way I could have got the MFT to work at all, would have been to get a path to earth some how? Would you expect 18ohms though from the 1.0mm CPC effectively buried in mud and water?

Would just be good to draw a line under it, figure out what wa going on, and know that I haven't cut their outside light off for no reason!

In hindsight, could I have left it operational on this retro TT installation lol? It was RCD protected, ,but surely knowing it wasn't connected to the MET means it is wrong?

Cheers in advance

 

[polo1]

Sorry, don't know the answer to the Zs question, but think you were absolutely correct to disconnect an external fitting having no effective earth, RCD or not!

Regards

 

[telectrix]

if it's in ducting/conduit, why can't you pull a new cable in?

 

[sambotc]

The issue wasn't with the cable in the duct, that has been removed, the problem was the way the cable entered the building and customer didn't want another hole drilled through the outside wall... bizarre but true. I did pull the cable out as requested and checked the earth for a break but it was fine, although corroding and stinking of stagnant water. I can only presume the cable was faulty in the wall it had been chased into as it enters the house.

 

[Tonkatoy27]

Fixed wiring now covers any installation where the cabling is fixed. It used to be an old way of avoiding testing to simply "plug in" an outbuilding. No longer allowable.
An extension lead which you can reel up is still an extension lead

I chaged some LED garden lights for a chap a while ago that the landscaper had fitted, they were fed in flex from inside the longe with an RCD plug top on the end. I can't remember what I had to query with ELECSA now but whatever the question was, the tech guy I spoke to said as far as they were concerned it was still part of the installation and a notifiable job. It's a real can of worms when testing in rural areas cos it's difficult to know when to stop. than not, the plugged in outbuildings etc get electricaly condemmed. (then the customer ignores us and plugs them back in after we've gone)

 

[Barry Rathbone]

Dig up patio, mind dead body!! Remove connector block with "poof!" disintergrated earth.....Get home put feet up and have a pint!

* and or chase wall out! , make sure he's out though so you can leave him a note...with Eureka!" lol*

 

[Guitarist]

Dig up patio, mind dead body!! Remove connector block with "poof!" disintergrated earth.....Get home put feet up and have a pint!

* and or chase wall out! , make sure he's out though so you can leave him a note...with Eureka!" lol*

Sounds like more than 1 pint already