Junction Box problem

[DIYDaveN]

Hi all. First post... sorry if I don't use all the correct terminology!

Recently bought a new house and there is a spur to a junction box, continuing to an outside connection via armoured cable, etc. but it doesn't work.

See images to make more sense of my next section:

Full size version

Full size version

Using one of those voltage tester pen (yeh, I know, but it does the job!) I can see that the cables to the fused switch are live and when switched on -- fuse is ok btw -- the u-shaped section of cable between the switch and the JB is live. Also the red cable inside the JB.

From there, the 2.5mm^2 black cable with red electrical tape is dead.

Hopefully you can see if the photo, but going from left to right, block 1 has the red live cable, block 2 is the external live, 3 is ext neutral and 4 is int neutral.

Now then... has this been wired correctly?! Because I wonder if they should be inline rather than adjacent?!

Please do ask if any further info is required... didn't want to unnecessarily waffle any more than I already have.

Thanks very much,
Dave

 

[DIYDaveN]

Woooo, big images, sorry!

 

[EFLImpudence]

Using one of those voltage tester pen (yeh, I know, but it does the job!)

No it doesn't.
If you had aproper tester or meter you would be able to answer your own questions.

Now then... has this been wired correctly?! Because I wonder if they should be inline rather than adjacent?!

I would think they would be opposite but...

...having said that, it all looks quite old so if that is the case, that means it has never worked.

You really need at least a multimeter to be able to tell.

 

[Iggifer]

Surely the simple solution is to just move the armoured cores down into the corresponding terminals and see if that solves your problem.

A word of warning though, they may have been moved due to a fault with the armoured cable. Do you know where the other end goes?

 

[DIYDaveN]

EFLImpudence, understood on the voltage pen... it would be nice to see if there was any current running. Everything looks clean and secure however, so I suspect it's something else. Totally take your point though... will see about getting one.

Both, I did wonder whether it had been rewired more recently, perhaps by someone who didn't know what they were doing or as you say Iggifer, due to a fault elsewhere.

It runs out of the wall, down and along the outside of the house for about 1.5m in a metal tube/conduit then under the concrete patio to an external junction box, where it splits to a weather proof socket for running a pond pump, and on to a shed via buried, armoured for a light and socket.

I'll most likely get a sparkie in -- concerned about the risk of rewiring to the corresponding terminals -- but it didn't look right!

 

[Taylortwocities]

EFLImpudence, understood on the voltage pen... it would be nice to see if there was any current running.

Yes but a votage pen may only tell you about VOLTAGE on the line conductor. And you also need to test the integrity of the neutral feed.

You only get CURRENT if there is a load on the circuit - and you do not have a load , because there is a fault!!

You need a multimeter and a better understanding of how electricty works, but

I'll most likely get a sparkie in

would seem to be your better option.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

You need an electrician, you must not meddle with something you do not understand!

 

[DIYDaveN]

Absolutely, and apologies for using the wrong term. I had read elsewhere about the dangers of incorrectly using/wiring a multimeter and certainly wouldn't attempt (if at all) without significant further reading and education, in to them and how electricity works.

Was just curious about the curious situation but will make some calls tomorrow!

PS. TTC -- appreciate the need for pros to be clear and firm on not messing around with this stuff, and people like me with questions like that, but you might want to consider being less disparaging and shouty. Just my 2p. I do genuinely value the input.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Good camera, though.

 

[xr4x4]

It looks like to me that each core is connected to separate terminals but aren't connected together.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Interesting way to use a wall plug:

 

[flameport]

The external cable must be tested properly before anything is connected to it, and this can't be done with a multimeter.

When calling electricians to look at this, mention that the cable is Pyro (also known as MIMS / MICC), as plenty won't have the tools or skills to deal with it.

 

[333rocky333]

Interesting way to use a wall plug:

seen it before, even done it myself, though i clip it off with cutters

sometimes its where you try to tap a second plug into the first plug too tighten the hole up

 

[ban-all-sheds]

When calling electricians to look at this, mention that the cable is Pyro (also known as MIMS / MICC), as plenty won't have the tools or skills to deal with it.

I'll bet there are people calling themselves electricians who haven't even heard of it.

 

[333rocky333]

Woooo, big images, sorry!

Any danger of sorting them out then