This would work, woudn't it?

[MalcyB]

Hi all

Just doing the testing at a job, I plugged my mft into a kitchen socket to test the RCD, when I found that the socket I was using was not connected to earth. There is a Black, a White & a bare copper cable I assume to be the Earth. I have spent the last few hours trying to find out where this cable goes with no joy. Apart from tearing the house apart, which the customer is not too keen on! I did think that one of these would work as a temporary safety measure, until I can locate the problem? But if the here is no earth there would it still work as it should? Bear with me if I haven't got the link right.

http://www.alertelectrical.com/Wiring-Accessories-Others/RCD-Sockets/RCD-Safety-13a-Twin-Socket-RCD2356.asp

Thanks

Malc

 

[ianmacd]

Are any other sockets missing cpc? That will need to be fixed asap. Is there no RCD on the main board?

Ian.

 

[MalcyB]

The sockets I can find are all ok. All in 2.5mm T/E Black & red. There is a 30mA RCD as the main switch. She thinks that there may be a socket or two behind the fitted bedroom?

 

[Andy™]

sticking in an RCD because you have no earth is not even something i would do as a temporary solution. either it gets fixed, or it gets disconnected

and you say there is a 30mA RCD main switch - so there is no point in changing the socket to an RCD socket

 

[MalcyB]

Yeah I told her it should really be disconnected till it's sorted, but there are only two sockets in the kitchen, and said "she needs it and would only re-connect it again, it can't be that hard"!!!!

 

[kme]

It NEEDS to be resolved or removed, one way or another. RCD socket is useless. If the customer won`t play ballm get Elecsa`s version of an "Electrical Danger Notification" form - equivalent to the NICEIC XNN.

That might "push" the customer into having it resolved, and covers you if they don`t, and something untoward occurs.

HTH

KME

 

[Andy™]

at least its her problem if she kills herself after she reconnected it, after you left it safely isolated

 

[MalcyB]

Just checked Elecsa site, didn't know they had these forms. Will do this straight away.

Thanks

 

[MalcyB]

With all my concern over this socket I for got to tell you the best bit.

While trying to locate where the cable came from, I had my head right in the far corner of one of the wardrobes to see if I could dismantle it to see if there were any sockets or cables behind it. I saw a book shoved down between the two wardrobes (corner units) I said as pulling it out "you have a book shoved down here", and out I pulled "Erotic sexual positions" I don't know who went red first, me or the 65 year old woman?Blushing

 

[bengie]

i hate working for people like this, personally i would make it safe and hand over one of the forms mentioned and if i had any put a sticker on it saying unsafe/disconnected etc and possibly take a picture of it. the biggest worry for me in this position is that the customer/tenant carries out their threat and reconnects the item then gets a shock only to blame you and say you never disconnected it or informed them it was dangerous.

luckily in my job we have little PDA things that we get all our jobs on and we are able to add notes to the job saying that we have done this kind of thing.

 

[sellers]

and out I pulled "Erotic sexual positions" I don't know who went red first, me or the 65 year old woman?Blushing

Red with what excitement or Blushing

:coat

Where did you find those forms, I had a look and couldn't find them.

ta

edit* found them, in the shop if anyone else is interested.

 

[ianmacd]

Suggest you get them to sign to say they have been informed too.

Ian.

 

[kme]

Part of the Danger notification process Ian - they sign, and you have a copy

 

[PBC_1966]

There is a Black, a White & a bare copper

All in the one composite cable? Sounds like American Romex from the colors. Any other markings visible, and did it have paper wrapping inside?

 

[MalcyB]

Hi

I convinced her to to let me look into it further. The back box was a plastic dry lining box. I carefully cut this out to see if I could see which way the cable went in the wall. It went horizontally towards the bedroom (with the fitted wardrobes). So I suggested to her that I disconnect this one and break into the ring in the loft, and bring a cable down in trunking to the socket, which she agreed. So it's all sorted now.

The cable was Orange with Wylex written on it, there was also paper wrapped around the cores.