On 15 Nov 2003 00:22:39 -0800, dave L wrote:

I've got the faithful neon screwdriver, a digital multimeter (set to
500V) and a 'digital circuit tester' from Blackspur ...

snip

When the pendant is switched off, the phase terminal shows (in order
of the tool above):
1. LED lit quite brightly

s/LED/neon/ I think you mean. B-)

2. (null reading)
3. between 12V and 36v (36v is slightly illuminated).

I think you need to be more careful about your descriptions and where
you are actually measuring. "phase" I would take to mean the permenant
live loop through in the ceiling rose and this figures with the
Subject: "unswitched live". But this should be at full mains potential
at all times, if it went on/off with a wall switch then all the lights
in the house would go on and off with that switch (unless you have
some *really* weird lighting wiring).

Just to clarify, do you really mean the above or the switched live
that connects to the bulb?

When the pendant is switched on, the phase terminal shows (in order
of the tool above):
1. LED lit very brightly

s/LED/neon/ I think you mean. B-)

2. 246-250v (depending upon pendant)
3. 220V.
snip
I'm a little intrigued that the two cheaper tools are showing the
the phase terminal is live when there should be no current.

Assuming you mean the switched live, they aren't. You need to
understand the tools you are using and how they interact with what
they are measuring. All of those tools are high impedance and are
voltage measuring devices. What you are seeing is induction from the
permenant live wiring into the open circuit switched live wire. With
high impedance voltage measuring tools it is normal to see this
induction.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail