Socket Problem

[Stevo90]

Hi guys

Hope you's may be able to be help me here as i am puzzled.

I have 2 sockets downstairs and two upstairs not working now, they used to work perfectly and suddenly there seems to be no power going to them. I also think one of the sockets upstairs has borrowed a neutral from the one directly below downstairs. I have put my test lamps across live + neutral which shows no voltage present but tells me theres a potential for it to be live ........ any ideas ?


Cheers

 

[stuart569]

Just stop before you hurt youreself.Is that the only bit of test kit you have?A plug in neon socket tester?It just won't do!

 

[trev]

Christ I thought he was talking about an MFT not a toy!

 

[Specialist]

When you go live to Earth, what does it show ? Have you got a Non contact tester ? it would prove that you've got a live. Next thing i'd be doing was opening up the fronts on the sockets that dont work & checking them all first, you also need to check the socket you found with the Neutral out.

Remember: Power off & use your tester to prove safe isolation first, you'd be better off leaving it till tomorrow when you've got daylight & your minds fresh. Think about whats going on with the wiring & you may realise you've missed something, we've all done it.

 

[Specialist]

Christ I thought he was talking about an MFT not a toy!

No mate: Double pole tester, they're not too bad but I prefer the 1 with a Digital display or my Martindale.

 

[Stevo90]

When i go live to earth it doesnt show that i have a voltage present but i have got the LED on the lightning lit. Probs going to leave it till tomorrow and i will check the continuity between all the sockets just to make sure the cable is ok between them all .

 

[Specialist]

Hi Stevo: When the LED with the Flash shows, it means that the tester is working in Single pole mode or like an old fashioned Neon if you like. Unfortunately in this mode they will read from about 95 volts so don't actually prove you have a good Live. Just a thought but have you had any work done just before the sockets went down ?

 

[Stevo90]

I have done work myself by putting my tv up on my wall in my room where the sockets went down, that was over 3 months ago now though and everything was fine ....

 

[trev]

Were you able to prove it was fine by following the correct test procedure?

 

[Specialist]

Ok if you put the TV up in the bedroom then that should'nt have made any difference as the Ring cable don't normally come down from the attic, if it was in a downstairs room where the cables run down the wall then just give it a quick check.

 

[Stevo90]

Yes i proved it was fine by following the correct test procedure. Its an upstairs room where the cables would be running from through the floorboards i assume so im 99% sure there will be nothing wrong with the install. I have asked my journeyman about this and hes finding it hard to come up with suggestions...... dont worry though i am determined and when i have some spare time i will find the problem

 

[trev]

Right so if you proved it once you can do it again Stevo. Like I said earlier go through the procedure and you should find out which sockets are fed from where and where your problem is. Assuming theres more than 1 RFC, leave 1 circuit on and go around checking for a voltage. The dead ones are either on another circuit (which can be proven) or the ones with the problem.
Once you've identified what is fed from where you can start looking for the fault, do your r1, rn, r2 tests to prove it's a continuous RFC, From what you have written so far I'd bet on one of your cables being broken/disconnected.
Obviously, at 8pm on a cold Monday night you'll have better things to do than this so go at it tomorrow with fresh eyes and a clear head