Sparking from Metal in Ground - Short?

[RealPolitik]

Have a steel-framed agricultural-style building - it has a single phase distribution board inside which supplies a few outside lights and inside 13 amp sockets.

One of the old-style wire fuses blew, which appears to supply three double sockets - I replaced the wire and the sockets worked again. However, when I went to shut the sliding door, I noticed that as I put the Dutch bolt into its floor ferrule, it sparked and crackled as the two bits of metal touched. The door is about ten feet from the distribution board where the supply comes in.

I’ve turned the power off, but can see no cable damage - I assume a problem with the supply to the board is an issue for the electricity provider, but does this sound like damage to a buried cable ?

 

[DAZB]

I am no electrician but it certainly does sound like you have a damaged cable. Keep the power switched off and get an electrician to it as soon as you can.

 

[Murdochcat]

Sounds like there is no earth and a fault. Best you get a competent spark to investigate ASAP

 

[Ragnar_AT]

Is there a meter in this building or where does the supply come from?

 

[RealPolitik]

Yes, there’s a meter (spinning round much more quickly with this issue) - think the problem might be in the old fuse box, I can hear arcing when one of the outlet cables is moved. Ground sparking seems to stop when just the fuse box is turned off but supply remains on.

 

[Jurassicspark]

Get an electrician in before damage is done.

 

[Notch7]

does the earth come in with the cable or does it come from a ground spike -whatever the current problem you should get a sparky to check it out given its a metal building

 

[Notch7]

Get an electrician in before damage is done.

or somebody dies!

 

[RealPolitik]

Main earth comes in with the cable in a conduit (other earth is onto a brass tap which is fitted to a poly pipe…). I’ve turned the supply off until I can get it sorted.