Live neutral reverse
- Thread starter chippy5
- Start date
Sponsored Links
There is a fault, but not necessarily reversed polarity.
Those plug in socket testers can give very misleading results, particularly when the fault is not one of those listed on the front of the device.
I vaquely recall getting reverse polarity showing once, I think it turned out to be a poor earth, im quessing the electronics could not decide, due to the poor earth. if the circuit was ok, or that was no earth present, thus opting for reverse polarity.
I would get a second opinion using a 2 pole voltage tester
I would get a second opinion using a 2 pole voltage tester
Maybe - I certainly agree these plug-in testers can sometimes give odd results with 'unusual' faults, so that a second opinion from different kit would be advisable. Having said that, I would have thought that reverse polarity was probably one of the easier things to detect, requiring (as well as other things) something approaching full supply voltage to appear between neutral and earth (so seemingly unlikely to be caused by a 'poor earth').
Kind Regards, John
Sponsored Links
Given that one of the faults they can't detect is a neutral earth cross, is this another source of incorrect indication?
I haven't thought all that deeply, but, at first sight, I can't really see how any sort of plug-in tester could possibly detect a N-E reversal, particularly in a TN-C-S installation, where the two are joined at the cutout. Indeed, other than end-to-end continuity tests on a disconnected circuit, I'm not sure how any sort of testing could detect it in a TN-C-S installation (and not necessarily that easy with TN-S).
Kind regards, John
They can't.
But they can detect a L-N reverse.
But they can detect a L-N reverse.
Indeed.
But I was talking about NOW.
I was talking about 8PM on a Sunday evening.
Absolutely get an electrician 1st thing Monday morning, or start investigating then, but RIGHT NOW there is a problem with the polarity of some sockets and RIGHT NOW is when that needs to be resolved and RIGHT NOW that can be done by connecting the socket on the basis of what the polarity of the conductors is RIGHT NOW, not on what they should be were they correctly identified by colour.
Nobody will ever die if the N terminal of a socket is supplied by a conductor which has red or brown sleeving. The same cannot be said of an N terminal with a L conductor in it.
Sure - as I said a couple of posts back, it's one of the easiest things for these little gadgets to detect (provided a viable earth is present).
Kind Regards, John
So what's the relevance of this:
to a situation where the tester is flagging a L/N reverse?
Absolutely no relevance, as far as I can see. As you will be aware if you have read the thread, I was responding to:
Kind Regards, John
I have read the thread.
And I did see what you were responding to.
Is what "another source of incorrect indication"?
And I did see what you were responding to.
Is what "another source of incorrect indication"?
So the topic is about L/N reversal, Westie asked "Given that one of the faults they can't detect is a neutral earth cross, is this another source of incorrect indication?", you understood what he meant and gave an answer which has absolutely no relevance, as far as you can see.
Is that an accurate summary?
Is that an accurate summary?
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Sponsored Links
