Wiring problem

[Mike UK]

Hi All

Found a spur on top of the kitchen cupboards which I would like to add a socket onto. I bought a new socket and cabling and attached it so the wiring matched to what was connected but nothing no power.

I know theres no earth but I what I want to plug in doesnt require an earth.

The white wire is the electrical feed and the grey cabling feeds an outside light. Would it be possible its not working because the polarity is revered or something strange? Its connected to a seperate 3A fuse on the wall.

Any ideas? Thinking its probably one Ill have to get an electician in to sort.

http://i.imgur.com/7uZB5.jpg
Heres the spur in question and yes I know I need to clean the top of the cupboards

 

[Mike UK]

Does it work when you switch the outside light on?

Yep the outside light works. Thats what got me wondering why is the power getting to the light but not my crappy socket.

This is on the sockets wiring but I would like just to plug a CCTV transformer into it minimal power consumption really.

 

[Mike UK]

If that 3a spur for the light is on the ring final & taken from the back of a socket I'd try spurring your new socket off there.
There's no reason why it shouldn't work off that junction box assuming correct polarity is maintained.

Worst part is the rooms just been newly decorated and I dont really want to rip it up to put a new cable in.

Only thing I can think of is the polarity must be reversed but wouldnt a no earth appliance still work if wired backward?

 

[Mike UK]

Assuming you haven't got a voltage tester you can open up the socket it's spurred off or the fused connection unit to see if the cables are correctly installed.

I have a multimeter but no idea how to check polarity not even sure if it does that (its a £4 el cheapass model) Just checked the fuse and its 13A but doubt it makes much difference.

Guess I could pick up a socket tester from eBay re-wire the socket in and give it a go.

 

[Mike UK]

If you are running a socket after fcu where its been rated to 3A, isn't that a start of problems, who knows what will be plugged in?

I had a look and it's actually a 13A fuse. I'll be changing this to 3A as the halogen floodlight that was out there has been replaced with a LED unit. Like said only want to plug a 240 to 6v IP camera transformer so overloading it will be very unlikely.

For the multimeter I will check tommorow. What happens if an appliance is run with the wrong polarity go bang or fail to work?

Thanks for everyone's help so far

 

[Mike UK]

I agree it looks pretty shoddy otherwise they would have used better quality cable and at least supplied an earth.
Ill remove the socket once I have finished with it I checked the power use of the transformer and its minimal compared to the floodlight that was connected.

Ill get a socket tester and re-wire it back in.