Sparking on earth cable

[endecotp]

Was the isolator that is shown in your later picture turned off?

You haven’t directly answered that, but I guess the answer is no, the isolator was not turned off.

That’s crazy. Most people don’t have the benefit of an isolator like that; you have one, but haven’t taken advantage of it. You must be insane.

I’m not going to try to help you fault-find why you get that spark. My suggestion to anyone else who does want to help: make sure your suggestions start with “turn off the isolator” and then proceed with safe testing procedures.

 

[endecotp]

There was 0 between live and neutral but every socket works

Sounds like reversed polarity

No it doesn’t.

 

[rob_em]

0 between earth bar and neutral but when they are disconected its 16 v between them

 

[Highway Man]

0 between earth bar and neutral but when they are disconected its 16 v between them

Place your consumer unit front back on, there is little for you to check inside of the consumer unit. Leave that for an electrician to check, turn off the MCB for the sockets and check as I suggested. it looks like you have two MCBs that need turning off to isolate the sockets, the 16A and the 32A. This fault could go from 16V to 240V so it isnt adviseable to leave it without a qualified electrician take a look after you have undertaken some basic checks.

 

[CountryFan]

Edit

 

[Highway Man]

It is sounding like a floating earth wire picking up voltage, more likely in the back of a socket the earth has become loose or broken off. It could be something plugged into the socket that is faulty. Two easy things to find and rectify. Possible socket screw has pierced a live wire or scraped it. After this it is down to an electrician to find but lets at least help the poor bloke out.

 

[chivers67]

The Earths are connected together in a ring so unless they're separated they will both spark still.

I'd switch the MCB off completely remove a socket faceplate, separate the earths (in the board & socket) and test cross live to earth to see if you have a short on both of them. If you have then work towards it. Wear some gloves & rubber boots too!

 

[morqthana]

A combination of someone putting their life at risk by working live inside a consumer unit and one or more faults on the circuit(s) concerned.

Well, as long as the live parts are well shielded.

Oh, wait....