new socket not working

[mbahundra]

Newbie here, bought a new house so may be around a bit.

I've just installed a new socket as a spur off a socket on a ring. I have 2.5mm ring cable, with the relevant wires in the relevant connectors at both ends. All done and ready. I test the new socket (it's a twin) and all's fine: the live shows live and there is no current in either the earth or the neutral. As it should be.

I plug in an appliance (a clock radio). The clock radio doesn't work. I test it in the socket I've taken the spur off and it's fine. I put it back in the new socket and it doesn't work. I test the socket again. Live is live, neutral isn't, etc. I plug the radio back in and test the terminals in the socket. ALL FOUR are live: the live and the neutral on the socket the radio is plugged in to and the live and the neutral in the other socket in the twin until that have nothing plugged in.

Can anyone suggest what might be wrong? I've done some serious head scratching, and I'm baffled. I mean, there's not a lot of leeway for getting it wrong, and unless I have early onset Alzheimer's, I'm pretty sure I remember what I did.

Thanks.

 

[flameport]

In the socket where you have connceted the cable for the new one, the neutral is loose or not connected.

Alternatively the cable is damaged and the neutral is broken. (Possible but very unlikely).

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

What did you use to test the connections?
Isolate circuit check at both the socket you have taken the spur from and
the socket you have added for loose connection or non connected conductors.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What did you use to test the connections?

I'll stake what's left of my pension that it wasn't a 2-pole instrument of any sort.

 

[mbahundra]

Thanks flameport, spot on. Must have popped out when I screwed the socket back.

 

[securespark]

Do yourself a favour then & check the CPC hasn't gone the same way.