Hallo.
I'm going to be working on replacing the sockets in the kitchen. I have a single ring for the sockets of the house, including the kitchen (the house is quite small).
I traced the wiring and disconnected the ring cables on either side of the kitchen so there should still be power to the rest of the house, although not on a ring any more. This is for no more than a couple of days, and the rest of the load will be TV, video and a couple of lamps (Oh and the PC .
The problem is this. One of the sockets which is nearest the break in the ring (at the end of the new radial circuit if you like) isn't working.....
The live wire into the socket is making my test screwdriver glow, as is the neutral when the socket switches are put on. All the three wires are definitely connected correctly. I've tried two different face plates and three different plugs and none of them is asking more than 3 amps.
My eyes and my knowledge say it should work, but the results are defying this. My only guesses are:
1. The socket is at the far end of a radial, and the current is less here. Is that likely? We're talking 50-75 feet of cable and a socket 10 feet away (the next one down) is fine.
2. The neutral heading back to the next socket down is faulty in some way. Would the circuit show live at all if there was no working return through neutral? I suppose it would.
P.S. no plug fuses have blown in any of this. Well none that I'm aware of. Like I said, I've tried 3 different plugs.
Appreciate some help on this folks. Thanks!
camieabz
I'm going to be working on replacing the sockets in the kitchen. I have a single ring for the sockets of the house, including the kitchen (the house is quite small).
I traced the wiring and disconnected the ring cables on either side of the kitchen so there should still be power to the rest of the house, although not on a ring any more. This is for no more than a couple of days, and the rest of the load will be TV, video and a couple of lamps (Oh and the PC .
The problem is this. One of the sockets which is nearest the break in the ring (at the end of the new radial circuit if you like) isn't working.....
The live wire into the socket is making my test screwdriver glow, as is the neutral when the socket switches are put on. All the three wires are definitely connected correctly. I've tried two different face plates and three different plugs and none of them is asking more than 3 amps.
My eyes and my knowledge say it should work, but the results are defying this. My only guesses are:
1. The socket is at the far end of a radial, and the current is less here. Is that likely? We're talking 50-75 feet of cable and a socket 10 feet away (the next one down) is fine.
2. The neutral heading back to the next socket down is faulty in some way. Would the circuit show live at all if there was no working return through neutral? I suppose it would.
P.S. no plug fuses have blown in any of this. Well none that I'm aware of. Like I said, I've tried 3 different plugs.
Appreciate some help on this folks. Thanks!
camieabz