tingle off taps when underfloor heating is on

[bristollspark]

hi all,
i hope you all can help,which i,m sure you casn.

a underfloor heating system ( loosewire ) when switche on,the customer we,ll his wife gets a tingle off the bathroom taps.

i installed the spur and theromstat,i tested it before installation.
bathroom fitter pulled the cables in through conduit i installed.

possible short?

 

[vernam616]

The problem most likely lies in the last statement you just made

The bathroom fitter pulled the cables in, get a IR test done

 

[Engineer54]

What tests have you carried out so far, and what sort of readings are you getting??

 

[mark80]

Need more answers really! Where is this underfloor heating located, the bathroom? Is it purely electrically powered or does it work with the boiler?? Is the circuit RCD protected and is the bathroom bonded etc!

 

[bristollspark]

underfloor heating is in the bathroom,it is off the ringmain on an rcd,which hasnt tripped. main bonds are in place - stop tap, gas meter.pipes supplying bath and sink are all in the walls.

i rewired the houes about 6 months ago before they decided to have underfloor heating.

 

[bristollspark]

going to the job on saturday,i dont know how the cables could of been damaged by the bathroom fitter because they are in pcc conduit

 

[imago]

going to the job on saturday,i dont know how the cables could of been damaged by the bathroom fitter because they are in pcc conduit

Never underestimate the abilities of plumbers and bathroom/kitchen fitters to break the unbreakable, wreck the unwreckable, or even on occaision defy all logic.

 

[somersetsparks]

Never underestimate the abilities of plumbers and bathroom/kitchen fitters to break the unbreakable, wreck the unwreckable, or even on occaision defy all logic.

lol Had plumber drill steel conduit before thought it was re-bar!

 

[Marvo]

The problem can only be caused by low insulation resistance of the underfloor heater. Drag out the mega tester and do some IR tests. Obviously being a bathroom if/when the system tests low insulation then it should be disconnected until repaired.

 

[Knobhead]

Try this for an experiment.
Smooth out a one-metre square of aluminium foil on the floor, if possible dampen the area first. Then with the heating turned on test the voltage between the foil and the taps.
I think you may be surprised!

Or shocked if your unlucky!

 

[Engineer54]

Try this for an experiment.
Smooth out a one-metre square of aluminium foil on the floor, if possible dampen the area first. Then with the heating turned on test the voltage between the foil and the taps.
I think you may be surprised! Or shocked if your unlucky!

You'll need some form of weight on that foil, to keep it in contact with the floor. We do similar tests, but for IR on conductive flooring in hospital operating threatres and the like!!

 

[chronyx]

Try this for an experiment.
Smooth out a one-metre square of aluminium foil on the floor, if possible dampen the area first. Then with the heating turned on test the voltage between the foil and the taps.
I think you may be surprised!

Or shocked if your unlucky!

That is interesting, I will have to try and remember that as it might come in handy!

You'll need some form of weight on that foil, to keep it in contact with the floor. We do similar tests, but for IR on conductive flooring in hospital operating threatres and the like!!

Would you mind explaining in more detail? (I'm just trying to learn as much as possible at the moment). I've seen non-conducting locations mentioned on the E.I.C.

 

[Knobhead]

You'll need some form of weight on that foil, to keep it in contact with the floor. We do similar tests, but for IR on conductive flooring in hospital operating threatres and the like!!

That’s what gave me the idea :smile5: