Electrics advice: earthing problem?

cheesyboy

cheesyboy

cheesyboy

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Joined
7 Dec 2012
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Gloucestershire
Recently swapped over a two-gang, two-way light switch (among a number being changed, but just a problem with this one). Noticed that I was getting a 'tingling' of electricity from my kitchen taps and isolated it down to this switch, specifically the right hand switch.

It (the tingling) only happens when the right-hand switch is in the 'on' position, regardless of whether the light itself is on (two-way, so switching it on with the other switch, located elsewhere, whilst the problem switch is in 'off' position doesn't cause an issue).

I wired it the same as the switch I replaced, and hadn't noticed a problem with the old one. Also replaced the back box, having needed to dig it out a bit deeper.

The question is: have I made a simple mistake with my switch wiring, or is there a more serious problem with my household wiring for which I need to do more remedial work or get a professional in? I've tried an identical switch, which I had spare, and the problem is the same so not an issue with the switch itself.

Pics of the wiring below:

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Call a decent sparky in please. There is more than one issue there I'd say as you have different potentials suggesting your bonding is not up to scratch either.
 
Think you should follow Lumeycoms advice, if you've got to ask about that - just don't, no one should be advising you any different. I would not advise someone of how to trace/repair a suspected gas leak!
 
Thanks chaps. Actually solved it. Turns out the issue was in the other switch where the retaining screw had gone through the live coming in from the first switch. Oops :D
 
cheesyboy said:
Thanks chaps. Actually solved it. Turns out the issue was in the other switch where the retaining screw had gone through the live coming in from the first switch. Oops :D
Click to expand...

I would suggest that it most definatly is not solved! A fault as you describe should cause the circuit to be disconnected, it appears in your case, it did not and instead caused everything connected to earth to become live, this would generally suggest an ineffective suppliers earth, though there are other answers (such as a TT system with a faulty/missing RCD)

There's been cases where such faults have caused deaths: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5779475/Young-mother-electrocuted-by-bath-taps.html
 
Hmmm. Might need someone in then.

The 'tingle' from the taps was certainly not a full mains hit, which suggested to me that it was earthing, and I was just getting a small hit as I provided an alternative earth - though might it be that I was simply not earthed at all? You're right that the RCD should trip, and it did at one stage when I was turning the lighting circuit back on after one of the switch changes (probably the one in question - I forget). It probably should have gone again whenever the switched turned the broken wire live, but didn't. I guess that throws up a question on whether it's all earthing correctly - one for a professional.
 
100ma time delay rcd by any chance?

Well done on finding that fault but your installation 100% requires looking at, please.
 
Don't cowboy electrics.

Without being there, it obviously doesn't sound great. Unless you are clued up on how to correctly earth your entire installation then get some that is clued up out.

You should never feel anything from any metal work in the house, regardless whether its not a big shock or not.
 
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