Non-fatal electrocution compensation

stator

tonyh66 wrote: »

Im not a spark, but I have never heard of negative polarity on AC current, I thought the polarity switched constantly hence alternating current (AC).

If Live and Neutral are switched most electrical devices will continue to work but it can be dangerous when something goes wrong.
I'm not an electrician but I am guessing this is one of those situations.
Someone bodged an electrical job, switched Live and Neutral. Some time later a cable is damaged and Earth becomes Live.

[Deleted User]

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

How is this even possible?

By a break in the neutral conductor of a TN-C-S service cable.

jude_pmc

'Fuse box' is my word - she had a comprehensive overhaul of the electrics in June 2016 when she moved in, with new switch box (or whatever you call it) replaced.


'Negative polarity' may be wrong, but she picked the term up somehow.

tonyh66

jude_pmc wrote: »

'Fuse box' is my word - she had a comprehensive overhaul of the electrics in June 2016 when she moved in, with new switch box (or whatever you call it) replaced.


'Negative polarity' may be wrong, but she picked the term up somehow.

Electricians call it the consumer unit, Im surprised if it was changed that any live current on the earth would not trip the RCD, again not being an electrician I wouldn't know if thats how it works.
Upshot is that a random event (act of god) damaged the wire outside the property to cause the problems, its no ones fault so compensation doesn't come into it (unless the cable was badly laid in the first place).

DavidF

I am an electrician and I can't see how an incoming cable could be "reversed polarity" due to anything other than human error (joint outside the wrong way round). So I think your friend has picked up something incorrectly.
Not really wanting to add to the compo drive here BUT the electrician who changed the consumer unit and did the eicr should as part of that job have discovered reversed polarity of the incoming service cable...it is one of the tests we do - and as nice guy's we normally either call the DNO (UKPN in this case) ourselves on the customers behalf or just give customer the number and description of fault and get them to call.

brightontraveller

"Told" means absolutely nothing and "probably " isn't report vocabulary so BS or misunderstood/ misinterpreted by either your friend or whomever gave them the information, Without a full report which they don't have they wont get anywhere? (good luck getting a retrospective report from UK Power that would admit liability.
:rotfl:) Without liability whom do they think is going to compensate them ?

Lizabeth21

How would compensation help her feel better in her home?

[Deleted User]

tonyh66 wrote: »

Im surprised if it was changed that any live current on the earth would not trip the RCD

An RCD doesn't provide protection against a break in the neutral conductor of a TN-C-S service cable.

jude_pmc

Thanks to everyone for your contributions.

troffasky

Lizabeth21 wrote: »

How would compensation help her feel better in her home?

Perhaps a thick wad of plastic fivers would make a good insulator?