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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
I've done a bit of testing this afternoon, and found a fault on a ring
main. Continuity results: E-E 0.40 ohms N-N 0.19 ohms L-L 37 ohms - clearly a fault here. I checked the 4 sockets on the ring for loose connections, and found no apparent fault. So next I joined up opposite ends of L+E, and measured R1 + R2 at the sockets: 0.42 ohms, 0.42, 0.48, and 0.51ohms. Clearly the resistance goes up as the sockets get further away. Muddled thinking got me nowhere. After a while, I was thinking that the cable must be damaged between the final socket and the return cable. But, a resistance of 37 ohms? That doesnt seem to be enough to be a damaged cable. (Insulation resistance was checked, and all fine at 1k M ohms) Any thoughts? Ta Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'. |
#2
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
On Jan 14, 5:55*pm, (A.Lee) wrote:
I've done a bit of testing this afternoon, and found a fault on a ring main. Continuity results: E-E *0.40 ohms N-N *0.19 ohms L-L * *37 ohms * - *clearly a fault here. I checked the 4 sockets on the ring for loose connections, and found no apparent fault. So next I joined up opposite ends of L+E, and measured R1 + R2 at the sockets: *0.42 ohms, 0.42, 0.48, and 0.51ohms. Clearly the resistance goes up as the sockets get further away. Muddled thinking got me nowhere. After a while, I was thinking that the cable must be damaged between the final socket and the return cable. But, a resistance of 37 ohms? That doesnt seem to be enough to be a damaged cable. (Insulation resistance was checked, and all fine at 1k M ohms) Any thoughts? Ta Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'. 99% of faults are behind/on a socket. Are you sure you've found them all. Have you removed the socket to test the cable, could be a faulty socket switch? |
#3
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
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#4
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
A.Lee explained on 14/01/2011 :
I've done a bit of testing this afternoon, and found a fault on a ring main. Continuity results: E-E 0.40 ohms N-N 0.19 ohms L-L 37 ohms - clearly a fault here. Connect to one end of the ring live with the ring parted, then work your way along with a long wire with a 13amp plug fitted temporarily on the end - check each socket in turn, until you find a sudden variation in impedance. That should make localising it easier. -- Regards, Harry (M1BYT) (L) http://www.ukradioamateur.co.uk |
#5
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
A.Lee wrote:
I've done a bit of testing this afternoon, and found a fault on a ring main. Continuity results: E-E 0.40 ohms N-N 0.19 ohms L-L 37 ohms - clearly a fault here. I checked the 4 sockets on the ring for loose connections, and found no apparent fault. So next I joined up opposite ends of L+E, and measured R1 + R2 at the sockets: 0.42 ohms, 0.42, 0.48, and 0.51ohms. Clearly the resistance goes up as the sockets get further away. Muddled thinking got me nowhere. After a while, I was thinking that the cable must be damaged between the final socket and the return cable. But, a resistance of 37 ohms? That doesnt seem to be enough to be a damaged cable. (Insulation resistance was checked, and all fine at 1k M ohms) Any thoughts? Ta Alan. You have actually answered your own question. Split the ring at all 4 sockets and use a fly lead of known resistance to check both ends of r1 from the CU before adding sockets as you work to confirm the topology of the circuit. It is a damaged cable or an unknown juction box or socket that is at fault. -- Adam |
#6
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
On Jan 14, 5:55 pm, (A.Lee) wrote:
But, a resistance of 37 ohms? That doesnt seem to be enough to be a damaged cable. Are you sure you disconnected *every* appliance on the ring? I once had a very similar fault, and like you was puzzled at the measured loop resistance of a few tens of ohms, but it went up to the expected 'infinity' when everything was properly disconnected. A wire had come astray behind a socket outlet. Richard. http://www.rtrussell.co.uk/ |
#7
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
On Jan 14, 6:52*pm, Skipweasel wrote:
In article 7325a866-ef54-42c5-9586- , says... 99% of faults are behind/on a socket. Are you sure you've found them all. Have you removed the socket to test the cable, could be a faulty socket switch? How would a socket-switch affect the ring continuity? -- Skipweasel - never knowingly understood. He may not have removed the sockests from the wiring and be testing from the front of the sockets. |
#8
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
harry wrote:
On Jan 14, 6:52 pm, Skipweasel wrote: In article 7325a866-ef54-42c5-9586- , says... 99% of faults are behind/on a socket. Are you sure you've found them all. Have you removed the socket to test the cable, could be a faulty socket switch? How would a socket-switch affect the ring continuity? -- Skipweasel - never knowingly understood. He may not have removed the sockests from the wiring and be testing from the front of the sockets. The clue is in the words "ring continuity":-) You don't test that from the front of the socket! -- Adam |
#9
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
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#10
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
ARWadsworth wrote:
Tried replying by email, but your address is dead: Final-Recipient: Action: failed Status: 5.0.0 (permanent failure) Remote-MTA: dns; [209.85.227.27] Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 5.1.0 - Unknown address error 550-'5.2.1 The email account that you tried to reach is disabled. 34si4611472wba.45' (delivery attempts: 0) You say "Clearly the resistance goes up as the sockets get further away." and make it sound as if you did not expect that to happen. Yes, I was trying to say it was like a radial where the resistance got higher as I went along, but it did not go down as I progressed back toward the CU, so the theory of the break between the last socket and the CU holds some weight. 2 of the sockets have faulty outlets, so I'll change them on Tuesday when I go back, and I'll do some further testing to pin down where the fault is. Thanks Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'. |
#11
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Sparkies - Ring fault?
"A.Lee" wrote in message
... ARWadsworth wrote: Tried replying by email, but your address is dead: Final-Recipient: Action: failed Status: 5.0.0 (permanent failure) Remote-MTA: dns; [209.85.227.27] Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 5.1.0 - Unknown address error 550-'5.2.1 The email account that you tried to reach is disabled. 34si4611472wba.45' (delivery attempts: 0) You say "Clearly the resistance goes up as the sockets get further away." and make it sound as if you did not expect that to happen. Yes, I was trying to say it was like a radial where the resistance got higher as I went along, but it did not go down as I progressed back toward the CU, so the theory of the break between the last socket and the CU holds some weight. It certainly does, either that or an odd topology, 2 of the sockets have faulty outlets, so I'll change them on Tuesday when I go back, and I'll do some further testing to pin down where the fault is. Well it will obviously be the last cable you test! -- Adam |
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