Strange voltage readings

[Jjm]

Been to look at lights today that was not working properly. After investigation I think the problem is in a switch which seems to have a feed from the downstairs lights and what I thought would be the loop to the next lighseems to have a voltage from the upstairs lights. When I put my tester across p-e of the cable from the upstairs feed I got reading of p-e 230, n-e 5v and p-n 189v. Can anyone explain the 189v between p-n.The two feeds where joined together in the switch like a loop in and loop out but when disconnected the upstairs lights do not work apart from an occasional flash of a low energy light fitting

 

[Thefailsafe2012]

Hello mate,

It could be a loose neutral somewhere along the circuit. Have you checked all other switches/lights (wherever the feeds are)? I had some LED's that would intermittently flash and eventually I found there was a neutral that had been pulled out of its terminal block, once put back in they all came back on! Anyway just a thought!

 

[Marvo]

Try doing the same tests again with an analogue tester (needle type) instead of a digital one.

 

[telectrix]

i wouldn't worry about the 5v at 1st. it's the 189v that's the problem. i suspect a poor connection on the neutral further upstream.