Nasty shock from stray voltage?

[Gulfsailor]

Ok, I am confused. I was painting our perimeter wall and removed some old lights on it and replaced with new ones. I twice got a medium electric shock when accidentally touching one of the cut wires. This was with the lights switched off. I thought maybe some stray voltage, as these perimeter lights are powered by a circuit that runs throughout our compound and feeds many garden and perimeter lights on a timer. Thing is that this circuit does not come from my consumer unit but from the neighbor who is the landlord and on a different phase than I am. So I measured using a multimeter and found 21Volts. Should that have shocked me? Then today I was re attaching the new lights, being careful not to touch any wire and even wearing a double pair of rubber sandals, when again I was shocked. This time a real good one! I have had 220V shocks a few times before, but this was definitely worse. Again I measured only 22V. Also when manually switching timer off at night (without disconnecting power supply) some lights shine just a bit. Again would that be possible at only 20V AC or so? Not knowing much about the source of the problem I decided to check the wires for DC current, and found 180V. Maybe my multimeter is just confused about it, or is it possible to get a stray DC current running through an AC circuit somehow??? It would explain the rather nasty shock I received. Any insights are more than welcome!

[wayned]

Sounds like the switch/timer might be connected on the neutral, not the live. Be careful!

[RichCor]

As stated, it may be that the circuit controlling the lights is switching the 'Neutral' rather than 'Live' wire, or if a sensor is used some voltage/current is allowed to pass through to let the sensor function.

You can get odd voltage readings when two phases are in play on a common Neutral wire. You may be experiencing stray voltages/currents because you're using your neighbor's phase/neutral so close to your own phase/neutral/grounded system. Neutrals can also experience voltages if L1 L2 L3 loads are unbalanced.

A better description of the lighting circuit (and what controls it) is needed to give a complete answer. Also, are the lights 'completely' isolated from your household wiring or do the lights share Neutrals or Ground on your property.

[Crossy]

Yup ^^^, sounds like you have a switched neutral.

When 'off' you would measure zero (or close to zero) between live and neutral, but the live would still be at 220V to earth, hence the shock. It probably felt worse than previous 220V shocks because you were outside on (possibly damp) ground.

Always treat and cable as live until you know absolutely that it is not.

Relying upon a simple switch or timer as a form of safe isolation, particularly when you don't have control over the switch / timer, is risky to say the least.

[Gulfsailor]

Timer on neutral instead of live makes perfect sense. Thanks to all for the explanation. I'll tell the neighbor to change it, and install a safe t cut as well. My circuits are already all grounded with a safe t cut in front.

[Artisi]

Could also be "borrowed" neutral causing the problem.

[Crossy]

Could also be "borrowed" neutral causing the problem.

Indeed it could.

In this case I think a switched neutral is more likely given the fact that it's outside perimeter lights (not a lot of neutral borrowing possibilities) and (a big clue) some of them glow when "off".