Pyro - testing for lack of 'continuity'

[JayJ]

(hi - new here, not a sparky but looking to pay for a test involving Pyro)

Been in an LA flat in London for some time, never had problems with electrics - all pyro (flat built c.1970).

LA recently sent 'inspectors' into the building to do a Periodic Test etc., to see if full/partial rewire required.

They came into mine, changed fusebox to new one (losing power to my alarm - had to get them back) + put in an IP rated light in bathroom (got wires wrong way round, no lights further on the circuit worked) + added a mains smoke alarm to my hall light (when I turned the light off to go to bed, it stayed partially 'on' - it was one of those new, energy efficient bulbs, so that meant that one 'loop' had a small but definite 'glow').

Well, after a phone call they came back fixed all, but then pronounced that there was a 'lack of continuity' which, after quickly checking all the sockets, they decided could be anywhere, and would therefore be suggesting a rewire. Unfortunately, a rewire here means just plastic conduit being slapped everywhere, which I want to avoid.

So, the bottom line is that I would like to pay for a qualified electrician (with experience of pyro) to come in and give me a second opinion. Any extra advice from the forum would also be helpful.

By the way, a neighbour gave me one of those cheapo 'plug-it-in and read-three-lights' type testers, which I tried out of curiosity - all sockets at the moment come up as 'L&N Reverse' if that means anything?!

Thanks.

 

[High Tower]

Jesus Tony, your not going anywhere yet man!!, and when you do can you leave your brain here, we will probably need it

 

[oldtimer]

I’m having my coffin wired in pyro, I’ll need a reading light in there!

And if you get cremated then you can keep reading knowing the pyro will not fail

 

[Knobhead]

And if you get cremated then you can keep reading knowing the pyro will not fail

You **** my keyboards full of cider now!

 

[High Tower]

I think it would be more fun to wire his coffin in T&E And sticky back mini trunking!!, that would really wind his spirit up!!

 

[oldtimer]

Aye Tony thought that because he bought his plot that was ok but the family have sold it to Barrats so they can put a block of flats on it.


PS my house was buit in 1956 and was wired all in pyro with the light circuits still intact and as clear as a bell

 

[bugsy]

I very much doubt there is a problem with the pyro, once the pots are on and sealed there is not much to wrong ( it's not as though it's subject to any mechanicle damage ) I suspect the conductors have been reversed somewhere on the ring , nothing a decent spark and a mft cannot sort out.

 

[JayJ]

Thanks, that gives me a bit of hope - I mean, that they are diagnosing 'lack of continuity' when in fact it may be down to L-N reversal (possibly). Some flats here managed to get away withhout being covered in conduit, and I would like to be one of them. I obviously need to call them back for the L-N thing, and shall ask them to explain things 1-2-3 as they do them this time. I get the feeling that it was a case of 1 'real' spark and one wanna-be spark who was learning on the job. Both guys were pleasant enough, but the 2nd guy was definitely confused about the wiring layout (all black sheaths) hence the bathroom light issue and the smoke alarm/unswitchable light issue.

Pyro can be tricky, it dosen't take a lot to damage the terminal ends i.epots and glands as they are basically threaded onto soft copper. if this happens in a wall for example it's going to be near impossible to repair in situ.

The lack of continuity and L/N reversal scenario sounds to me like one and the same thing. They've not bothered to identify the line and neutral when they changed the board ( asuming they were correct beforehand). A standard continuity test involves linking line to earth and testing the resistance. Obviously if the line and neutral are reversed then there won't be the link hence no continuity.

Having said that though it's also highly possible that there is a poor earth continuity where the pyro's terminated to the sockets as well. Rusting of backboxes is pretty common.

 

[JayJ]

OK, I understand - thanks.

I would also suggest the L-N problem is the main tails. But since you had them back and they connected the bathroom light up the wrong way round, once the tails are changed this may need rectifying back to how it was.

 

[JayJ]

The vast majority of the flats here have had no problem with electrics - in fact, for the few that have, it has always been the light circuit, not the sockets. The flats look fine (and, being LA high rise, are quite spacious and well sound-proofed) but we know that a few corners were cut, as often happened with later builds. So, for example, the pyro embedded in the ceiling sometimes goes diagonal, causing a few surprises when council workmen need to drill.

My sockets are the original for the most part (so, yank plug out, unswitched) - ironically, the couple of sockets added in the 90's were the ones with loose connections, no earth etc.

I guess I should turn off the power and take a look at some of the insides to see if any rusting has occurred. I know that some concrete can cause corrosion, but as yet I have not heard of it here.

Overall, there seems to be no logic to the flats that are told they have failed and got to have a full re-wire, and the few who have passed - maybe there is some financial incentive to this 3rd party firm condemning the electrics, they get to rewire after all.

Your making MICC cable sound like it's a weak cabling system, which it most definitely isn't!!
I've never yet, come across a pot pulling or falling off a cable. ...If the copper is so soft as you put it, why do you need a potting tool to thread the pot on to the cable in the first place??

Whereas your thoughts on rusted back boxes makes much more sense as a cause of loss of earth continuity, but only at the effected points!!

 

[Silly Sausage]

Jesus Tony, your not going anywhere yet man!!, and when you do can you leave your brain here, we will probably need it

Don't believe this 'Grumpy, cynical, I'm at death's door' persona he's portraying on here.
He's actually a super fit 34 year old Adonis, early retired, multi millionaire, who's posting from his sun lounger on some sun kissed beach in the Caribbean, surrounded by topless beauties attending to his every need.

 

[JayJ]

Yeah, that I now understand - I wish I had known that when the council wonks were telling everyone that it was likely to be in disrepair after 40 years !!!

They could have damaged a pot while messing with them however as E54 said pyro is far from weak. Will out last us all

 

[JayJ]

) - was reading the Tyco thing about pyro being unscathed by Channel Tunnel fire -so believe you!!

And if you get cremated then you can keep reading knowing the pyro will not fail

 

[JayJ]

Just a reminder guys, this forum is great but I'm not looking for something for nothing - anyone qualified in checking pyro and able to get to E London is welcome to contact me, and I'll pay for a second opinion (er, quote me the damages first though).

I know that many skilled trades aren't keen on working in LA, especially high-rise (insurance I guess?) - but in my case I would just want literally a thorough test and second opinion. Cheers.

 

[UNG]

) - was reading the Tyco thing about pyro being unscathed by Channel Tunnel fire -so believe you!!

They had a section of the pyro and the electrical gear that was connected to it that had been removed from the tunnel on their stand at the Firex show not long after the fire all powered up made the FP look pathetic

 

[Engineer54]

Just a reminder guys, this forum is great but I'm not looking for something for nothing - anyone qualified in checking pyro and able to get to E London is welcome to contact me, and I'll pay for a second opinion (er, quote me the damages first though).

I know that many skilled trades aren't keen on working in LA, especially high-rise (insurance I guess?) - but in my case I would just want literally a thorough test and second opinion. Cheers.

I think spinlondon is from around your area. You could always PM him and see if he's interested. Can't think of anyone better, to test and give you a qualified second opinion....