How to Fix a Ring-Main Absence of Neutral Continuity
You might not realise it, but you’re probably already dealing with a ring-main absence of neutral continuity, and you have no idea how to fix it. There are a number of reasons why you might have this problem. You could have a loose neutral in a socket, or you’re missing a neutral wire altogether. The best way to identify the cause is to use a wander lead to test for continuity back to the neutral on the board.
MCB is not protecting the cable properly if the ring final isn’t wired correctly as a ring
If the MCB is wired to a 2.5mm tee as a ‘ring final,’ it isn’t providing adequate protection for the cable. This is because the cable is connected directly to a tumble drier that requires a lot of current, and this heat will eventually melt the cable outer sheath and start a fire.
Wiring a ring final correctly is a critical step in safety for any electrical system. This ring final should be wired to a 32A breaker. This is necessary for safety reasons, but it may not be the best solution for your particular installation. In that case, you should consider the wire colour and the wire size of the ring final.
Another problem with ring finals is that they fail more easily than radials, and sometimes, even with the correct work, they may fall apart. Similarly, a 32A MCB is not going to protect the cable correctly if the ring final is not wired as a ring final.
Another complication with ring final wiring is that the neutral wire is not connected to the earth bar of the MCB. This means that if the load is pulled through the neutral wire, the MCB will trip. In such a situation, the cable is not protected. If you can’t make sure that the ring final is properly wired, you should avoid it altogether.
If the ring final isn’t wires correctly as a ring final, then the MCB will fail to protect the cable and will leave the floor disconnected. It is also important to consider the rewirability of the wiring. In this way, if you’re unsure about how to wire your ring final, make sure that you’ve checked it with an electrician.
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Resistance of live and protective conductors round the ring
A ring has two ends, one with live and the other with protective conductors. To verify whether a ring is complete, disconnect the live and protective conductors from each end, and use a low-resistance ohmmeter to measure the resistance between the two. If the resistance readings differ, the ring is not complete.
A 340-volt voltage from a live electrical conductor to a protective conductor in the hand produces an electrical current of 20 milliamps. Even a slight current can cause death or injury if the victim grasps the conductor or is in contact with metal objects. Whether the current is mild or severe is dependent on the total resistance of the circuit.
Measurements of ring-main absence of neutral continuity
There are two ways to verify that a ring main circuit has no bridges: by using a ring-main meter and measuring the resistance between the phase and neutral outlets of the system. In both tests, the phase conductor must be connected to the neutral conductor of the other side. If the resistance readings are different, there may be a bridge. To eliminate this problem, connect a low-resistance ohmmeter to the phase and neutral sockets on the ring.
A single-core cable meter can also be used to check for the absence of neutral continuity. To determine if the ring-main is in good condition, connect a three-wire service temporarily to a two-wire system. Attach a continuity probe to the stack ground and check each lead individually. If the wire is live, it should produce a sound. If not, the neutral wire is faulty.
Ways to avoid a concentrated load on a ring
There are ways to avoid a concentrated load on ring-mains that lack neutral continuity. When a load is in one phase and the other in the other, the voltage and currents will be different. If the neutral is broken, it affects the phase voltages as well as the line currents. This change in voltage and current will result in a change in electric power. If this change in voltage and current occurs unexpectedly, it will lead to brownouts and overvoltages.
To avoid a concentrated load on a rogue ring main, the load should be spread around the circuit. The installed rating of the cable must not be exceeded. Circuits with multiple appliances should be wired so that the load is evenly distributed. For example, the kitchen is often on a separate ring circuit, with a utility room shared on the ring. The load on the ring is fed by conductors on either side. Shorter conductors will be less resistant, carrying a disproportionate amount of load.
The modern ring-main design uses 1.5 mm2 CPC cable and MCBs to provide circuit protection. By using these techniques, circuit safety is maintained under most circumstances. However, if a ring-main does not contain a neutral continuity connection, a bridge will occur between the two phases. In that case, the ring will not function. The same applies if L or N are broken but the safety earth connection is intact.
A concentrated load on a ring-main with no neutral continuity is dangerous. A broken neutral may lead to electric shocks in customers and cause a large number of problems. Because neutrals are not grounded, they are difficult to detect. In many cases, the only signs of a broken neutral are flickering lights or tingling taps. If you notice any of these signs, contact your electric company and fix the problem.
Another way to fix this problem is to connect the neutral to ground. If the neutral is connected to ground, there is no continuity between the two, and the equipment connected between Phase and Neutral becomes the equipment connected between the two phases. This type of equipment has different ratings than the other two, and the voltages will be at a range between zero and 440 V. The voltages at the different points of equipment will be dependent on the impedance of the connected items.
