alleged elec in wednesdays "sun" 19th march

[equitum]

how can you check that someone hasn't borrowed a neutral from your circuit to use for a light on a totally unrelated circuit that is currently turned off such that as soon as the relavent light switch is turned on your neutral becomes live?

I can see how a borrowed neutral can be an unexpectedly energised neutral, but "become live"?
Without some other fault? I don't see how.

Whether or not borrowed, or unexpectedly energised, Neutral is always a live conductor.

 

[Adam_151]

how can you check that someone hasn't borrowed a neutral from your circuit to use for a light on a totally unrelated circuit that is currently turned off such that as soon as the relavent light switch is turned on your neutral becomes live?

I can see how a borrowed neutral can be an unexpectedly energised neutral, but "become live"?
Without some other fault? I don't see how.

If the circuit is being worked on, then there is a good change that the neutral might be open circuit (eg, I disconnect phase and neutral of the circuit in a board to replace an MCB with an RCBO), if the lighting circuit borrowed a neutral from the circuit I was working on, then if someone switched the lights in question on then with the neutral open, the loose neutral will rise to 230v above ground and is to all intents and purposes 'live'

(we'll not go into the fact that all neutrals are classed as live conductors)

 

[JohnD]

"Don't worry, this circuit is dead, no need to use an insulated screwdriver"

Yeah, right

Whenever anyone says "Don't worry"

Start worrying.

 

[Softus]

I see. Thanks.