14v between neutral and earth and 3rd Microwave

[tjamesbo]

Our 18mth old Russell Hobbs Microwave failed so we managed to get amazon to refund the new one came ( same model ans previous ) and worked for about a week then grill worked fan worked but no microwave power still waiting to see if amazon refund as this was the replacement , but whatever we bought another a Sharp with Grill and Convection oven this was used once to reheat a coffee second use and again no microwave no oven no grill but display says cooking LOL so this is unlikely to be coincidence? but remote chance it could be so i have checked the polarity of the socket all comes up correct however the test plug i used showed 2 greens and a red a code not detailed on its chart of light combinations
2 geens and a black yes and one green and one red but not all three lit up So I unscrew the faceplate and visually check the wiring and with a mains test screwdriver firstly all as it should be only light is the live Secondly i check with my digital voltmeter 244-245 at the live to neutral 240 live to earth but 14V between earth and Neutral not a major major problem but well outside whats considered acceptable ideally o but 2-5 ok maybe up to 10 so is this why theyre not lasting ??? some sockets in the house give the same 3 lights on the plug in tester but some only give 2 greens even upstairs its mixed So we desparately need another microwave but Ive a feeling this need sorting before i become blacklisted for returns
Any Electricians comment on how to resolve this quickly and cheaply without rewiring the whole house
Thanks
Boyd

 

[SpikyMikey]

Surely 3 microwaves going boobs-up in a short period is more than coincidence or bad luck?
Time to get a sparks in for a proper diagnosis.
I play with volts for a living, but mains stuff I always rely on a 'proper man'. It's safer that way.

 

[Meldrew2]

If you have more voltage Phase (Live) to Neutral than Phase to Earth, I would be rather worried about the integrity of your Earth connection. I recommend that you get your electrical installation tested asap.

It may be that your earth arrangements are inadequate - in years gone by many houses used to take the earth from the incoming water main, and with more plastic pipes replacing lead this is no longer an acceptable method. If this is the case, you would need at least a copper earth electrode and a Consumer Unit (fuse box) incorporating Residual Current protection.

While test plugs can be useful to indicate correct/incorrect polarity, they are no substitute for a proper Loop Tester (in professional hands).