Reverse Polarity

[pmoyne]

Need a sanity check, I have a customer issue... installed a customer supplied consumer unit as they had the supply brought into the basement, so 3 ciurcuits had to be extended etc tested it all issued certificates etc. all fine. however halfway through the day the customer asked when was i going to do the basement consumer unit. I said it wasn't agrred and i would not have enough time that day. however I agreed to move the meter tails as they would reach the new supply. I did this and did a direct ZS on the ring main and all checked ok.

They agreed to have me back in three weeks to do the basement consumer unit. the saturday night before going in on the Monday saying he didn't want me back, because his wife had a electric shock from the washing machine and had lost confidence, this was the 13th of march they then got and electrician on the 31st of March who said the meter tails had been reversed and this was horendous and had caused the electric shock.

Apart from various stories changing and they started off saying I have switch the live into the earth bar 1st, but have changed it to the polarity reverse, would this cause the plumbing to go live.

They are asking for money by the way...

any advice would be helpful.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

If the earthing system is satisfactory and there were no other faults a reversed polarity would not cause a shock,a danger would only arise if a S/P mcb or switch was off for maintenance etc and a live would still be present at the appliance.
While this is a serious defect which should be picked up by testing and inspection prior to energising it may be worth asking them to explain how this could cause an electric shock if the appliance was just being used normally.

 

[pennywise]

May be wrong but didn't think a plug in tester could tell you whether N and Earth are reversed on a TNC-S system, think I read it on the packet of mine when I got it years ago.

 

[chris gray]

May be wrong but didn't think a plug in tester could tell you whether N and Earth are reversed on a TNC-S system, think I read it on the packet of mine when I got it years ago.

no martidale/plug in socket tester can do a n-e reverse test

 

[Deleted member 9648]

I thought he is accused of reversing the live and neutral??....not neutral and earth??

 

[martysparky]

If the earthing system is satisfactory and there were no other faults a reversed polarity would not cause a shock,a danger would only arise if a S/P mcb or switch was off for maintenance etc and a live would still be present at the appliance.
While this is a serious defect which should be picked up by testing and inspection prior to energising it may be worth asking them to explain how this could cause an electric shock if the appliance was just being used normally.

Good point. maybe worth asking if the customer was dripping wet or the washing machine was in a suitable location and if in a bathroom for example is it suitable for such location as per manufacturers instructions.

 

[Guest123]

I read the OP as being a L-N reverseal....not N-E???

 

[pennywise]

no martidale/plug in socket tester can do a n-e reverse test

Sorry my confusion Socket tester can't show reversed Neutral and earth. Only Neutral and live reversal

 

[martysparky]

yes, I have offered that they go through niceic but they seem reluctant.

Seems evasive then?

 

[pennywise]

I read the OP as being a L-N reverseal....not N-E???

I may have read it wrong

 

[volt-dropping]

THey waited 20 days with no mcb protection with only one major incident , with no safe running water without the use of vde 1000v gauntlets , none of the many polarity conscious electrical appliances exploded .

The lighting would appear unaffected and would still work in most cases but something would explode .

This may be vicious flannel at your expense some electric shocks from washing machines are static put the right clothes in and its a high rev static generator , i used to work in a clothes factory and the woman were always getting static shocks from fast spinning materials and always claiming it was mains voltage and painfull , remember electricity in any form terrifies the naive!!!

just another take on the situation

 

[martysparky]

I noticed a socket in reverse not so long ago whilst doing a job. Told the customer and they wouldn't let me touch it so they could get the guy to come back and prove what he had done directly. I would be thinking why don't they want you back to prove what you had done as now its only word for word.
One cert against another and is the other a family member? or as being evasive vested interest? or non existent?

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Sounds like shutting the barn door after the horse....you know the rest,...... but one thing this sort of thing brings home is the value of a full set of test results on a cert at the end of every job.With proof that the job was left in the correct state this sort of poo cant come your way.

 

[acat]

Dont give them any money back I think they are trying to have you over. If you are with the NICEIC they tend to treat verbal complaints with the contempt they deserve.

Your customer needs to put his complaint in writing for a start and name the other electrician in it inform them that you will be passing this complaint to your solicitor for action.


I doubt you will hear from them again.


Chris

 

[pennywise]

I now take pictures of all installs too, along with the test results it's a very strong augment.

 

[joethepudding]

Sounds to me like they are taking the P.. if there story is changing as you say.

never under estimate a customer faced with a bill they dont want to pay.

if you are with the NIC i would say you are compitant enough to change tails (according to NIC that is)


tell them you want to speak to the other spark...my guess is they wont be able to find his number!!!