Picking up live feed in loft

I had a plumber come to change some pipe work and he advised that the heating pipe work in the loft is picking up electrical feed, it’s all on the beams, cold water tank etc.

he was checking with a pen like tool that glowed red, he didn’t seem to concerned but it’s got me concerned,

any ideas what this could be ?

I have had this in the past with a voltstick pen. It glowed on wooden beams as well as all the cables.

Always in a loft it seems.

As it turned out, on two occasions, it wasn't anything - probably just induction or something.

These voltstick pens can give very misleading results.

HOWEVER, it needs to be double checked by a competent electrician for the sake of safety.

Since you mention PIPEWORK and COLD WATER TANK this really must be checked by a pro.

Did the plumber get a shock or tingle from the pipes or tank?

Have you noticed a tingling sensation in the past from sink or bath?

The safest advice would be not use the sink or bath until someone has verified all is ok.

No issues with using anything and no shocks or tingle, he said it might be ghosting and he seems it all the time

Those pens are useless, even dangerous as they can light when touching an EARTHED item and not light when touching a bare Live wire.

They light up if the potential difference between the person holding them and the item they are touching is more than about 90 volts. If the person is standing close to a live wire such as the wires to a switch on wall then capacitive coupling can raise the potential on the body to more than 90 volts. Then the pen they are holding will light up if it touches anything that is earthed and may not light if touching a live wire.

Capacitive coupling can create a potential on a person's body but the impedance of the capacitive coupling is extremely high and thus any current from body to ground will be insignificant and the potential will dis-appear

Do you think an issue then ?

there has been no work done in the loft

j77drs said:

Do you think an issue then ?

Click to expand...

99% certain there is not an issue.

Appreciated