Can anyone tell me….

[CotswoldDoItUpper]

I have a plug socket that hasn’t worked since we moved in (6months or so) I assume it’s a dodgy socket so today replaced it. When testing the cables I notice that my electrical screwdriver has a strong light when touched to the live cable, but also a weak light when touched to the neutral and earth. I think this is why the socket isn’t working! No switches have tripped on our (admittedly 1990s) fuse board. 
 

any recommendations for a solution?

 

thanks!

 

[Dan F]

Whats the other red/black cable in the wall?

[ProDave]

56 minutes ago, CotswoldDoItUpper said:

any recommendations for a solution?

If you are not competent around electrics, call an electrician.

 

A neon screwdriver, while useful, is NOT an approved electrical test instrument.

 

the fact it glows dimly when touching the N or E suggests those are likely to be floating and not connected.  Be VERY careful, although this socket is not working it looks like it is capable of giving you a nasty shock or killing you.

 

The fact you have the other cable stuffed in the back box unconnected puts a lot of doubt into the integrity of the whole installation.

 

What are your plans?  Rewire?  Just repair and patch up what is there?  I suspect you are going to want an electrician on board for your project so you might as well find one now.

[Temp]

5 hours ago, ProDave said:

the fact it glows dimly when touching the N or E suggests those are likely to be floating and not connected.  Be VERY careful, although this socket is not working it looks like it is capable of giving you a nasty shock or killing you.

 

+1

 

What's the other wire in the wall?  On a ring you would expect to see two cables (two live, two neutral, two earths) going to the socket. But perhaps this is a spur and that other wire is something else? 

 

 

 

[CotswoldDoItUpper]

The other cable is a single socket about half a m away that is connected to this one. So yes @Temp those are the additional wires in the back box. The reason they are disconnected is just me trying to isolate the problem. 
 

I haven’t yet been killed in 15+ years of changing plug sockets/light switches but thank you, I shall continue to be careful and have turned the RCD back off after taking the pictures. 
 

I assumed it would be a job for an electrician, but thought it prudent to check with the vast knowledge on here before I spend hard earned £! 
 

Thanks all!

[dpmiller]

so it's a spur off a spur? Where is this one powered from then?

 

No earth sleeving where you come from?

[CotswoldDoItUpper]

17 minutes ago, dpmiller said:

so it's a spur off a spur? Where is this one powered from then?

 

No earth sleeving where you come from?

It appears that way yes. 
 

I don’t think the guy who wired it in (I guess) the mid-late 80s had earthing sleeve no. No sign of it on any of the outlets anywhere in the house! 

[ProDave]

like I said before, the best thing you can do is get electrician to give it all a thorough test and inspection and advise what needs doing, taking into account your plans for the property and alterations you will need.

[SteamyTea]

2 hours ago, CotswoldDoItUpper said:

haven’t yet been killed in 15+ years of changing plug sockets/light switches but thank you

Past performance makes no statistical difference, it only has to go wrong once.