Working in domestic properties - how responsible are you?

[Humdrum]

Hello

Over the last 2 weeks I have been doing some electrical work for the neighbour of my Daughter as they had been let down by 2 other Electricians. I normally do design work but am 18th Edition C&G 236 qualified, as I am waiting to start a new draughting contract I have been doing installation work mainly for family. My daughter told her neighbour that I was an Electrician and might be able to help them out! This neighbour told her that it was just a couple of extra sockets. Later I learned I was expected to create new 13A socket and FCU positions, move the cooker cct and add additional lighting points.
As we had the first meeting and discussed the job, the kitchen fitter/carpenter wanted a new ring main and a new cooker cct. The house owner however wanted the ring main and cooker ccts extended. I decided to go with the house owner and extend the ring main and cooker ccts. This I thought was better as I am not Part P registered and this work would not be notifiable
During the work I carried out insulation resistance tests on the original cooker cct and the new legs of the ring main. As I was told that new plasterboard was soon to be fixed to the walls.
These tests all returned values above 999M ohms. All good, I then decided to do an earth fault loop impedance test on 2 of the existing sockets, one read 1.7 ohms and the other 1.9 ohms. I believe the max value for a 32A EN60898 type B mcb cct is 1.1 ohms.
I know I will have to resolve this problem as when I have to connect the new cables into the existing ring main cables the new sockets will be over the 1.1 ohms also.
So I'm thinking I will need to check the terminal connections of all the existing socket outlets on this existing ring main and retest for Zs.
Yes I should have carried out an EICR but was told at the outset it was only a couple extra sockets needed!

Thanks in advance

Humdrum.

 

[pc1966]

I'm with Leesparkykent here - a check on the ring ends to verify r1, rn & r2 are sane should be done in any case.

If they are OK then either Ze is high (which you could check at that time you are at the CU) or the sockets you tested have some abnormal resistance to them. I guess it would have to be CPC gone high (CPC to back box not to socket terminal?!), otherwise an odd ohm on L or N would cause quite a heat problem if you are loading them to several amps.

 

[Bob Geldoff1234]

Test the main earth first(Ze) and get a reading.Then without removing the earth lead put the two test leads on the other side of the RCD.See if there a marked difference.Your high readings could be being caused by RCD uplift. Obviously if the readings are the same then your high Zs needs investigating.