Socket Tester Neutral Fault

[Crofty]

Today I was doing an EICR and went around a couple sockets with a Megger MST220 socket tester just to see if there was anything obvious, all three green lights came on saying everything was fine and correct. When I took the faceplate off to do my R1 R2s I got readings of 0.60 on R1 but then >2000 on Rn. I know socket testers shouldn't be relied on and I only use it to see if there if anything obvious before I take the faceplate off but surly it should of shown a natural fault?

 

[MDJ]

Today I was doing an EICR and went around a couple sockets with a Megger MST220 socket tester just to see if there was anything obvious, all three green lights came on saying everything was fine and correct. When I took the faceplate off to do my R1 R2s I got readings of 0.60 on R1 but then >2000 on Rn. I know socket testers shouldn't be relied on and I only use it to see if there if anything obvious before I take the faceplate off but surly it should of shown a natural fault?

it only tells you the polarity is correct, it isn't for readings and is an indicator only, no different from a volt stick, both convenient but unreliable really.

 

[pc1966]

And even a mft won't quickly show E N reversal.

It will if its RCD protected

 

[mainline]

It will if its RCD protected

Only if you run a test, it won't by just plugging it in.

 

[pc1966]

Only if you run a test, it won't by just plugging it in.

I often run the no-trip Zs as a quick check, as it verifies all conductors look OK and if N-E swap then RCD trips on the high current PSCC side.

But more generally as N & E are electrically so similar there is not any trivial check without added work, like isolating the N at the CU.

 

[nicebutdim]

Only if you run a test, it won't by just plugging it in.

It's a tester. Its intended purpose is running tests.

 

[mainline]

It's a tester. Its intended purpose is running tests.

Very informative and helpful.
I would have thought that the real intended purpose was to make money.