I have disconnected a power shower pump and boiler and want to disconnect the cable from the main fuse box.
I identified the breaker as turning it off turned off the neon light. There were three cables on the breaker, the downstairs ring and the boiler/shower. I removed one and connected the live and neutral together (I had turned the main switch off). I then went up and checked for a circuit from the shower switch. I then checked for a circuit from the boiler switch. Both beeped showing that I had the correct cable. I then disconnected the live and neutral and checked again - no beep. I was then 99% confident that I had the correct cable. I then turned the power back on and checked both switches for a current.
I did one final test, which is where my question comes. I connected the live cable to an earth bonded copper pipe and got a reading of 40 volts. Where does this come from. If it had been 240v, I would have been very worried, but why only 40 ?
I identified the breaker as turning it off turned off the neon light. There were three cables on the breaker, the downstairs ring and the boiler/shower. I removed one and connected the live and neutral together (I had turned the main switch off). I then went up and checked for a circuit from the shower switch. I then checked for a circuit from the boiler switch. Both beeped showing that I had the correct cable. I then disconnected the live and neutral and checked again - no beep. I was then 99% confident that I had the correct cable. I then turned the power back on and checked both switches for a current.
I did one final test, which is where my question comes. I connected the live cable to an earth bonded copper pipe and got a reading of 40 volts. Where does this come from. If it had been 240v, I would have been very worried, but why only 40 ?