I've found it invaluable to keep a couple of those cheap nightlights
in my toolbox to help ascertain when mains sockets are powered.

Go down your local pound shop and pick up a packet of one or two neon
nighlights and store these in your toolbox.

Saves scrabbling for some electrical appliance to use to test a socket.

Mungo

Better yet get a couple of socket testers
(Maplin have them for £3.99).

Not only will you get a much better test (such as missing earth or L/N
swapped that would still allow the socket to function) but anyone
watching will be more impressed than seeing you plug in a night-light
(even if you only impress SWMBO it's worth it!)

david lang wrote:
Mike Harrison wrote:
If the conductor is not damaged, inserting 2 additional junction
boxes would be far from 'properly' in terms of reliability and
potential safety.

OK ideally the entire cable should be replaced, but a new section & 2 boxes
sounds a lot safer than wrapping the bloody thing in tape!

Rubbish. Quick splice in of 1 junction box (with 3 in line connectors),
and you'd only need to cut the earth, the main conductors could stay in
one piece as they run through.

Get 2 jags in to hold your hand though, to avoid part pee.

Cheers

Paul.

Aye, but can you use these testers to placate young kids that
may be spooked at night?!

I suppose knowing that the socket is safe may make kids sleep better...

Mungo (now added a mains socket tester to his purchase list; hope Santa
is watching :-)

Sincere thanks for the tip.

wrote:
Aye, but can you use these testers to placate young kids that
may be spooked at night?!

I suppose knowing that the socket is safe may make kids sleep better...

Mungo (now added a mains socket tester to his purchase list; hope Santa
is watching :-)

Sincere thanks for the tip.

CPC even sell a nice version which also includes an 30mA RCD tester.

http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/endecaSearch/partDetail.jsp?SKU=IN02013&N=411

The one I got is similar in function to the above yet the earth leakage
current can be varied between 10-250(?)mA however it looks like they
don't sell it anymore.

Mathew