Another electrics question...dodgy workshop supply

[madkayaker]

and after i hope bs

 

[mattg]

long overdue update- after some more investigation, found that it was an earth problem just as you guys suggested.

I measured 90V between the socket earth and the earth at the meter....

I have now earthed the sockets, and all is well. Used earth wire of a large diameter than the one installed (the faulty one), I presumed this would be adequate.

Does anyone have access to an online 17th edition book? does anything like that exist?

Thanks
matt

 

[Can'tWeld]

MCB's won't operate properly if neutral and live are reversed, in a ground fault situation the breaker won't trip. I know because I've had a similar thing in my house recently (see the thread entitled "Need a sparky!" somewhere in this forum).