Earth wire at ceiling rose - odd tester reaction

[WabbitPoo]

I was asked by a friend to swap a light fitting in her lounge. Using a tester that beeps when held near a live wire, I tested for live, switched off the lighting circuit and tested for dead, whereupon holding the tester next to the earth cable still caused it to beep.

As I am clearly not an electrician, this had already gone past my pay grade, as I didn't understand why the tester would "go off". The earth cable was being used in the old fitting but not in the new, but anyway I terminated all cables safely for now and came here.

Any ideas what may have been causing the behaviour?

 

[BigJon]

The volt pens aren't great for testing for live.
Chances are its not live and its just picking up static/magnetic field.
To be sure you should invest in a multimeter or test lamps.

 

[Johnmelad]

They have their uses, but testing for live/dead is not one of them.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

I would not trust one with my live/life, they work on non-contact electro-magnetics.
Always go with the two probe approved indicators.

 

[Iggifer]

They have their uses, but testing for live/dead is not one of them.

great for circuit identification but thats about all

 

[AndyPRK]

We have a problem with our supply cable at the moment.

It did make me laugh when the supply company waved a volt stick at the fuses.


They tested the supply cable with a DVM and for good measure touched with his finger. It wasn't as if he was going to be working on it. It could of become live very easily.

 

[WabbitPoo]

thanks for the info.