Shower feed wired in wrong

[1stfix2ndfix]

I was wondering if anyone can answer this one for me. I'm an electricians mate, I did ask the guy I'm with but he couldn't give me an answer.

So after he changed the board and I did the bonding I get to go round testing. Whilst taking the zs of the shower I noticed immediately upon removing the over that the feed had been wired up wrong. The live was with the live but the neutral from the feed was wired up to the earth terminal/cable in the shower and likewise the earth from the feed was wired up to the neutral terminal and cable of the shower. Now spotting this I asked the customer who had wired this up as they have done it wrong and I was told the fire fitter lol. She then asked me why it had worked and was still working. I didn't really have a answer and nor did the guy I'm with if I'm honest so I'm just wondering if anyone knows the answer to that one. Was it unsafe and were they just lucky. I felt a right idiot not knowing the answer but hopefully next time I'll be able to fill em with confidence in my response

 

[Brightspark2]

Testing seems to be cut into the tails and put a rcd in. If it trips then we've got problems if not good to go.

So I'm wondering should the rcd have picked up on this

What tests should of been done and what one would have shown me that the nutral and earth were mixed up in the shower unit before I even looked in there?

http://i.stack.Upload the image directly to the thread.com/jiFfM.jpg



I cant believe someone does that. An R1+R2 or R2 would of picked it up, one of the first tests that should of been carried out.

Installing an RCD in line is going to take longer than carrying out that test. As Tel says it doesnt prove much either because it would have to be switched on for it to trip. It is not the right way to do things at all.

 

[1stfix2ndfix]

surely if a new board has gone in the shower will be on RCD. when you then switch the shower on , the RCD will trip as current will be flowing L - E , thereby causing a huge imbalance.

Cheers I can now suggest things

 

[1stfix2ndfix]

surely if a new board has gone in the shower will be on RCD. when you then switch the shower on , the RCD will trip as current will be flowing L - E , thereby causing a huge imbalance.

Cheers

 

[telectrix]

be honest though, how many of us have opened a shower to get a R1+R2 before doing a board change?

 

[1stfix2ndfix]

Sodding phone.

So r1 + r2 would be done at the shower

 

[1stfix2ndfix]

I would of seen It by then

 

[1stfix2ndfix]

If you've got to do it for 8 circuits say then it would probably be quicker

 

[Octopus]

Is it me or is this thread more than a little bit confusing, that said its Lofty or now know as 1st2nfix - so nothing new there

 

[HandySparks]

...the first thing he does is to cut into the tails and pop a rcd in the middle.

Damn sight easier to just measure the differential current in the tails with an earth leakage clamp meter. No cutting of cable required.

It's one of the first things I do when an RCD tripping problem is reported.

 

[Kris]

Sorry to be a thickoo guys just reading this interesting thread and wondered whats an r1 + r2 ??

 

[trev]

Eye. And then take the main fuse out but I'll do that anyway @ trev.

You should not be being relied on to do that.

Cheers I can now suggest things

A mate suggesting things to the qualified bloke? No disrespect intended but ?

 

[Jamie]

Sorry to be a thickoo guys just reading this interesting thread and wondered whats an r1 + r2 ??

R1+R2 is one of two ways of carring out the "Continuity of Circuit Protective Conductor" test.


DEAD test, safe isolation and prove it's dead before carrying out the test

A temporary link installed at the C/U (or I prefer to take the live conductor of the circuit and put it in the earth bar), test at shower between Line & Earth with a continuity tester.

Then you would get your result in Ohms, and check that in accordance to table L1 On-Site Guide BS7671:2008

 

[1stfix2ndfix]

Is it me or is this thread more than a little bit confusing, that said its Lofty or now know as 1st2nfix - so nothing new there

Why confuse yourself then by coming in lol

 

[7029 dave]

He does what? Is that his idea of pre change testing?

Trev, funny, suppose that's one way. lol

 

[telectrix]

the answers are all there, grasshopper, all you need to do is seek the truth.