Ring main Snags

[Dazzol2009]

Started on a job today, where the customer wanted a new consumer unit to 17th edition standards, and a check over of Electrics which they know is something weird.
Started doing some testing before i ripped it all out tomorrow, and found Circuit 1 and Circuit 2 supplying the main ring, only dead when both fuses are pulled, further investigations into ring found the two wires that were in circuit 2 were not the ring, but doing a continuity test found the ring was the live from circuit 1 and one of the lives from circuit 2.
Another find was the third wire was a positive reading with one of the legs of the ring, but not both.
I hope this all makes sense, because i was struggling at start.
In summary 3 wires on two circuits we shall call R1, R2 and R3 for ease, R1 and R2 have continuity, also R1 and R3 have continuity, but R2 and R3 don't, as I want to seperate these whats the quickest way to investigate this problem.

 

[ifindoubtdont]

Is it wired in singles or T+E. In any case, using your terminology you are missing R4.

 

[Plonker 3]

What type of meter did you prove the continuity with?

 

[Dazzol2009]

wired in t and e 3 cables one to circuit 1 and the other two to circuit 2 tested using my megger mft 1552

 

[Plonker 3]

Did you get the same continuity on the neutrals and CPCs?

 

[Pete999]

Probably best to start from scratch, disconnect ALL cables and continuity test to find out where they go it will be difficult on your own try and get a mate to help

 

[Lucien Nunes]

R1 and R2 have continuity, also R1 and R3 have continuity, but R2 and R3 don't

Strictly speaking this isn't possible. If A is connected to B and B to C, then by definition A is connected to C. You don't mention what the resistance readings are, but I wonder whether you are reading through some connected loads that are bridged between the circuits, or a high-resistance fault between the circuits? Perhaps the resistance from R2 to R3 (confusing terminology!) is just too high for your tester to give an indication on the continuity range but would show up as the sum of the other two if tested using a higher range. Also, if anything energised is interconnected as well, the tester might give peculiar readings on the circuits that you think are isolated. Agree with above, need to break down into manageable chunks.

 

[Dazzol2009]

Well I am back there tomorrow, so will have a look and update the post

 

[richy3333]

Well I am back there tomorrow, so will have a look and update the post

Good luck in tracing R4

 

[ifindoubtdont]

What size breakers are circuit 1 and circuit 2. Re-reading the OP I think you might have a ring and a spur with 1 leg of the ring in the wrong breaker. If you are talking about just the lives (red/brown) then R1 - R2 you should have continuity and they should be in the same breaker, R3 is your spur (maybe).