tingle from shower hose

[philipb]

Hi guys,
Had a strange one yesterday,went to replace a triton shower,straight swop,same unit,
up and running in 20 mins,small leak from shower hose under shower,as nipping it up got a tingle from
hose as my finger touched mains water pipe.tested 240volts between hose and pipe,tested pipe which has continuity to bath
tap.not checked bonding yet.switched power to shower off still 240v,only lost reading when i unscrewed pipe and the
water drained out.shower unit is working ok.even shorted hose and pipe together but 240v still there.
Iknow the reading is not a true 240v but the tingle was real enough.any thoughts?

 

[londonlec]

Did you take a Zs reading?

 

[philipb]

Hi,haven"t taken any readings yet,it was late,going back today for a better look.

 

[philipb]

Hi Guys,went back today,tested cable okfound pull switch burnt up and earth loose,
also water pipie not earthed,i am fitting a new switch and an 40amp rcd.
also the water pipe is sunk in wall and is only visible at the shower,with an rcd fitted can i
earth the water pipie from the 6.0mm cpc at the shower?
The earthbonding in the house is ok and there is some plastic water pipes under the bath.

 

[telectrix]

if the water is all in copper to the shower, then it should have continuity to the main incoming water pie.

 

[philipb]

hI tel,i suspect the shower has some plastic in it as water pipes near boiler and under sink are bonded,
but as i said under bath is plastic and i think the shower is fed from there.
Can i bond the shower to earth cpc at the shower with rcd fitted?

 

[yellowvanman]

Bonding water pipes etc. in a bathroom to the earth of circuits in a bathroom is supplementary bonding and you can use 4mm for that.

 

[philipb]

Thank you yellowvan man.that saves me a awkward job.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

You should always check that both earthing and bonding arrangements are up to current regs before undertaking any work. also to check for supplementary bonding (if required)...... Better safe than sorry mate.........

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Why no tests (IR Zs) etc BEFORE swapping the shower unit?

 

[philipb]

Hi glenspark,The house is unocupied at the moment so had a spare hour so thought i would
fit the shower and have a look round later,i had loaned my meter to a friend on saturday.
much work to do but with no customer can only do shower till they return.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Hi glenspark,The house is unocupied at the moment so had a spare hour so thought i would
fit the shower and have a look round later,i had loaned my meter to a friend on saturday.
much work to do but with no customer can only do shower till they return.

No probs mate.....It just seemed strange to me that someone wouldn`t test for CPC continuity and IR and an R2 ....just to cover their own ar$e of course.....

 

[GLENNSPARK]

He/she might be your friend mate but NEVER loan your MFT/test equipment out if i were you....your naked without it..........

 

[philipb]

You're spot on correct,its just a reminder to myself and anybody reading this the value of testing,
the shower worked ok but a potentially dangerous fault was present.Thank you for your comments.

 

[telectrix]

think it's time to get the wander lead out.