UK regulation,

[Gidso]

This may be a stab in the dark, but here goes. I have a power strip (5-way plug), i'm trying to prove that it is not a suitable product for the UK. If you put a volt meter between Earth and Neutral, it shows mains voltage, but 0v if you measure earth to Live. My colleagues in Holland who are testing this power strip believe this to be OK, as it is switching the AC and refer to the positve/negative, and earth. So in effect if you plug a kettle in it, it works, and when you switch it off at the wall obviously it does not work.
My question is how, providing documentry evidence do i prove that this is not suitable as far as legislation is concerned, what are the implicattions of the power strip working like this. Where can i get documentation that shows conclusively the way domestic electrical supply works in the UK.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[peterb]

I believe that you have the line and neutral connections mixed up. In any jurisdiction, the neutral would operate at or close to zero volts to ground. As far as documentary evidence is concerned, check the relevant standards or consult a knowledgeable professional.

 

[peebee]

I agree. It sounds like either you were confused when you measured the voltages, or someone replaced the plug and wired the new plug incorrectly.

If you did in fact measure the voltages correctly, then I'd say it's not suitable for use in any country and should either be fixed or thrown out.

 

[Gidso]

They are not mixed up, just the unit is switching Neutral, which to them works, they think that as long as when the power supply is turned off the effect is the OK so there is no problem. They won't budge until they see documentry evidence proving it is illegal to sell such a device in the UK. I'ts the hard documentry evidence I need.

 

[Walden]

The IEE (UK) Requirements for Electrical Installations (known to all as the “IEE Regs” state:

130-05-01 A single pole fuse, switch or circuit breaker shall be inserted in the phase conductor only.

130-05-02 No switch or circuit breaker, excepting where linked, or fuse shall be inserted in an earthed neutral conductor and any linked switch or linked circuit breaker in an earthed neutral conductor shall be arranged to break all the related phase conductors.

So if you want to switch the neutral conductor you have to switch all the phase conductors too. You cannot switch the neutral on its own.

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: To break all phase conductors and neutral is not safe in some instances where the neutral grounds the conductive metallic surfaces of the load. If the load conductive metallic surfaces are without ground, the surface may happen to be energized by a defective cord passing over it and it can make the conductive metallic surface hot or energized with respect to another conductive metallic surface that happens to be grounded. This situation can prove to be fatal or posing health hazards.

 

[peebee]

Isn't there a requirement for the device to be tested, listed, labeled, or similar?

Here in the US, the power strip would typically be tested by Underwriter's Laboratories (UL) or similar, they'd definitely reject a power strip that switched the neutral.

Is this the kind of documentary evidence you're looking for?