Faulty shocking plastic switches

[Bassclef]

I have a 3-way lighting switch and a standard dual switched electrical socket that seem to have the same problem. There is leaking current from the plastic portions of the switches. It is not static. I can use a neon tester screwdriver and the light from the neon will increase the closer I hold it to the switch (like a little rheostat) until its maximum if I wedge it into the crack. There is NO voltage present at the earth/mounting screws. Measured with an analogue multimeter, I read about 5-15 volts. My wife HAS felt this (I thought she was crazy for quite a while) and I finally got zapped today.

In my little head, this can ONLY be a faulty switch, but because this has happened to both a light switch and an outlet, AND we are having random (or not so random) RCD trips, I wanted to get some advice. I am more than capable of replacing fittings, and indeed have replaced the double socket (I am going out to get a replacement SPDT switch as I didn't have one handy)

What can cause this? These are oldish, MK fittings. The house was a bodge job, and I have been making good, but I am worried there is something worse lurking.

 

[abrocky]

Possibly a poor quality of plastic, or something foreign getting into the mix...

We noticed upon a fault find one time that the plastic on some connector blocks were conducting slightly. Guessing a similar problem.

 

[Bassclef]

Possibly a poor quality of plastic, or something foreign getting into the mix...

Do you reckon then that these are simply two faulty devices, rather than something more sinister?

Thank you!

 

[Taylortwocities]

1. Do not reply on that neon screwdriver thing. They tell you lies and are not to be trusted.
Go rub it on your wife's nylon underwear for a bit and you soon see what I mean.

2. If you have a suspect faulty fitting just go and buy a new one.

3, If you still are not sure, or cannot cope, get a qualified electrican to check out your bodged installation.

 

[JohnW2]

There is leaking current from the plastic portions of the switches. It is not static. I can use a neon tester screwdriver and the light from the neon will increase the closer I hold it to the switch (like a little rheostat) until its maximum if I wedge it into the crack. There is NO voltage present at the earth/mounting screws. Measured with an analogue multimeter, I read about 5-15 volts.

It's not unusual to get a neon test screwdriver to light, or a high impedance voltmeter to show a voltage (relative to earth) when in close proximity to an electrical accessory, due to capacitive coupling - so those findings, in themselves, could just be 'normal'. However ....

... and I finally got zapped today. ... because this has happened to both a light switch and an outlet, AND we are having random (or not so random) RCD trips, I wanted to get some advice.

Given that, I think that the advice has to be that you should get an electrician to check things out, to make sure that nothing dangerous is going on.

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

Go rub it on your wife's nylon underwear for a bit and you soon see what I mean.

An then try the same experiment with the neon screwdriver.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Do NOT try the same experiment with an insulation resistance tester.