weird voltage on domestic power, inductance?

[Tim89531]

Hi,

I hope I have the right part of the forum.

I have obtained some weird testing results in domestic electric situation which I would appreciate some help with.

First about me: I'm a non-electrician with interest in the field.

Second: I am an aussie living in Egypt, in a high-rise apartment block. This forum was the closest english-speaking one.

Third: I'm pretty sure that the power supply here is not delivering clean supply

 

[revjames]

My advice would be to immediately start using a plug in RCD for all plug in appliances and ask the owner to get the installatiion inspected.

 

[Zeespark]

Would an RCD work with no earth as the op has stated?

AndyGuinness

 

[Evans Electric]

This is very dificult to comment on , not knowing a damn thing about Egyptian electrics.

When you say the plugs have no earth , are they two pin only. This suggests there would be an RCD at the source which should be picking there wierd voltages.

Is there one there which may not be working ?

You use the term " Active" for live, would that be an Aussie expression ?

Deke

 

[binky]

Might be worth earthing things to waterpipes especially the dishwasher. Getting a zap from a double insulated laptop semms mighty weird. Think I would consider moving premises/countries before dying:O:O:O

:coat

 

[Andy™]

Would an RCD work with no earth as the op has stated?AndyGuinness

an RCD detects imbalance, so if he is getting a shock, there is an imbalance somewhere, so it should work fine

 

[Apache]

Could just be static from the laptop?

I'd move and keep runner wellies on until then!

 

[binky]

Could just be static from the laptop?I'd move and keep runner wellies on until then!

Runner wellies - is that for catching sheep

 

[a1]

Runner wellies - is that for catching sheep

Being a Welshman - I wouldn't know. O)

 

[seajayess]

A RCD should work regardless if there is an earth as it detects an imbalance between line and neutral, a fault to earth ie. you ! would create this imbalance so requires no earth to trip CJS

 

[revjames]

Aussie/NZ refer to Live (line) conductoer as 'active' for some strange reason!

I can't believe how some people accept getting shocks as normal. I would have turned it all off and demanded some action by the owner. Perhaps not so easy in Egypt?

 

[alchemist]

I believe some electronic equiptment uses earth to filter out noise from the supply, if there's no earth connecton for the laptop, it could be developing sufficient touch voltage to give a tingle, which I think would be about 50v.