ELECSA Certification Scheme Ring final continuity readings and Elecsa assessment looming...

[markc123]

You got a heater in the bathroom thats bonded on a FCU, anything like that?

It's difficult when we're not on the job with you to say for certain over the web.

 

[mpoy222]

You got a heater in the bathroom thats bonded on a FCU, anything like that?

It's difficult when we're not on the job with you to say for certain over the web.

No nothing like that, I've disconnected main and sup bonding in C.U. too. I cant think of what else would be bonded to a socket and if ive disconnected bonding in C.U. would it still have a parallel path? I know what you mean though i bet if one of you guys was here you would be able to sort it in 5 minutes lol Its just frustrating i cant find the fault quicker.
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[markc123]

You're just going to have to energise again, and switch off the ring-main (the one in question if you have several) and go around with a plug in tester (or a kettle if you don't have one lol) around absolutley every socket thats on the circuit and jot them down...then switch off and go around each one checking for connections to earth.

One of the things you need to understand is that a Parallel earth path will bring the cpc reading (R2) down towards 0. Your cpc value is at 0.40 compared to 0.60 and 0.61 with line and neutral. This is why im leaning towards a parallel earth somewhere.

You got SWA on the ring at all anywhere?

 

[onions1066]

Stand back and take a few mins, strip it down, can you actually see you have the right earths? Is the heating system on the ring? If it is that is prime for bringing your reading down reading through all the pipe work connected to the boiler .

 

[markc123]

It's late, and i'm not quite sure why i've just told you to energise the circuit. Have you had the power back on at all on the circuit since you've done the CU change...? If you have then crack on and do it again so you know whats what.

 

[mpoy222]

One of the things you need to understand is that a Parallel earth path will bring the cpc reading (R2) down towards 0. Your cpc value is at 0.40 compared to 0.60 and 0.61 with line and neutral. This is why im leaning towards a parallel earth somewhere.

You got SWA on the ring at all anywhere?

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Yeah i will have to do that its odd that its not 0.40 all over it does vary from 0.28 at the C.U. to 0.40 on other sockets. Theres no SWA anywhere.

 

[onions1066]

You will never get the exact reading unless they are all brand new sockets, you have to work within the tolerances and use a bit of commen sense as well

 

[mpoy222]

It's late, and i'm not quite sure why i've just told you to energise the circuit. Have you had the power back on at all on the circuit since you've done the CU change...? If you have then crack on and do it again so you know whats what.

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Yeah power has been back on, i will have to go through it all again to find the fault. I need to know what im talking about when the Elecsa assessor comes so i dont look completely incompetent lol cheers for all your advice

 

[markc123]

It could just be loose connections, but to have lots is unlikley. First go round and make sure every earth connection on the ring is absolutley tight...and in the process check for other earths connected that shouldn't be. Onions has gone onto my next point though, heating systems.

 

[markc123]

You got any dual accessory boxes anywhere that could be linking two circuit cpcs together by mistake?

 

[mpoy222]

no dual accessory boxes BUT the boiler is in kitchen and the timer is on a FCU i did take it off but wasnt looking for any extra earths at the time so may have missed it. There aren't any earth clamps on the pipes that i can see though. The Immersion heater is on a seperate circuit upstairs though and all the heating controls are next to that. The only bonding clamps on pipes are on the gas and water as they enter the house.

 

[markc123]

All i can really say mate is have a proper thorough look tomorrow, and if it's still the same come back on here tomorrow night around tea-time and they'll be alot more members on to offer advice / pick more brains.

Im still convinced it'll be a parallel path somewhere though...obviouslly can't say for certain, but if i were you it would be what i was focusing my attention on.

 

[SYKRAPS]

Disconnect the earth in the supply flex to the boiler and I will hazard a guess that this will be the source of the parallel path mpoy

 

[DJ Ovengloves]

GN3 and GN8 are essential reading and reference materials IMHO mate...treat yourself!

There are a lot of FCU's in kitchen feeding everything from washing machine to under cupboard lights, fan, hob, cooker hood etc. No i dont have GN3 i thought i had spent enough on books and couldnt justify another £26 lol I havent carried out any other tests on the circuit as i run out of time. I havent tried the split ring method do you mean break the circuit down and test between sockets?

 

[mpoy222]

Thanks for all the advise, i haven't had a chance to investigate further but i will update as soon as i have, I like the boiler flex theory (fingers crossed!) That makes sense. It must be a parallel path somewhere as suggested. Thanks again
Michael