LIVE / EARTH REVERSE - 23 volt in live and neutral Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[danny001]

Hi
i have test a wall socket and have found 230volts in the live cable and 230volts in the neutral

i have been told this is called a live/earth reverse

but would like to find out why it is happening or possible causes

thanks

[kbrownie]

How did you measure this and may be able to then spread some light on it!

[moggy1968]

whoever told you that is wrong.
the electricity goes 'out' on the live and 'returns' on the neutral
they both carry current.
a live earth reversal refers to the live and earth (which should not normally carry current) you are talking about the live and neutral (which do)

[danny001]

from the consumer unit to the shed there is only one cable which leeds to a double socket,
it is just used to plug in the jet washer for the car
one day it was not working
i used one of the plug testers and on the diagram it says its a live/earth reverse
also opened the socket up,
with a fluke T100 tester found that between the earth and live 230 volts and the same between the earth and neutral

i cant see how this has happened, have spoke to someone who said its the live and neutral have joined in the cable, so any ideas of the cause would be a great help before i did up garden

thanks D

[danny001]

HI,
nothing works when pluged into this socket

i also tested a socket in the kitchen which just has the power in the live side not neutral, this is working

[moggy1968]

if your live and neutral join together you have a dead short and it will blow a fuse or trip an MCB. most likely thing off the top of my head is a neutral has come adrift bihind a faceplate somewhere or in the consumer unit.

[sparx]

it seems you have lost the neutral connection somewhere, possibly at house supply end, check connections first,