303 practical exam help.

[madeinengland]

hi guys. i've got my 2330-303 practical exam on tuesday (tomorrow). the exam is on fault finding and rectification. my college is crap. i've spent half a lesson (1 hour to 1 and a half hours) once a week for 8 weeks either side of easter (college closed 2 weeks) and half term (college closed 1 week) trying to fight 22 other pupils to practice on one of 4 test boards with testers that would work if the college had any batteries. i'm definately not ready for this test and haven't even seen an RCD tester.has anyone taken this exam and could give me a heads up as to what's what.

cheers

 

[MrSkipsey]

We did ours a few months ago. We had a class of 16 and 1 board. We had a 2/3 hour time slot so went in 2 at a time and could book a time slot that suited us.
Our board consisted of 6/8 faults that were already installed and the idea was to find 3 that the tutor selected via switching them on or off at a switch box next to the board.

Most of us had a light fault [strapper], socket fault [reverse connection] and something else. If theres a few of you and your worried then dont go in straight away. Let the others rush in then pick their brains on what faults they had so you get a rough idea of what to expect. Like I said, most of us received a strapper and reverse connection fault so we knew what to check for straight away to eliminate or rectify.

We went in, did a visual, then just went through a process of elimination. Switched lights on / off / on [1 way & 2-way], emergency lighting was checked to make sure that was operational. Martindale on the sockets, DB was checked for missing labels etc .

Rememeber, your only in their to find 'XX' amount of faults. Once youve found them, then thats its. If it takes 2 minutes billiant, if it takes 2 hours.....There be no more to find!

We only had to find the faults. Not rectify them - as the faults are predetermined and hard wired with choc blocks within the containment. Obviously if we removed the containment for one fault we would of discovered choc blocks / switches for the other faults. Once the fults were found, our tutor asked how we would correct the, Once he was happy with our verbal answers we then went to complete the paperwork.

Hope this helps.

 

[madeinengland]

did mine on the 9th of june. got a credit. couple of schoolboy errors to prevent me getting a distinction. but at the end of the day i'd have been happy just to pass so credit is bonus.

 

[Mac]

did mine on the 9th of june. got a credit. couple of schoolboy errors to prevent me getting a distinction. but at the end of the day i'd have been happy just to pass so credit is bonus.

Congrats mate

 

[leatherman]

hey iv got this test tomorrow

and I'm basically in the same situation i passed the 302? now i just have to find faults ( never fault findbefore on any installation) for the 303

Is there some kind of flash game or something i can visually see with my eye's, i cant learn by reading book's it just doesn't sink in.

And is some one could explain how i would know by looking at the tester if there are faults that would be super!

thanks leatherman

 

[MrSkipsey]

hey iv got this test tomorrow

and I'm basically in the same situation i passed the 302? now i just have to find faults ( never fault findbefore on any installation) for the 303

Is there some kind of flash game or something i can visually see with my eye's, i cant learn by reading book's it just doesn't sink in.

And is some one could explain how i would know by looking at the tester if there are faults that would be super!

thanks leatherman

Perform a visual test first. Switch all lights on and off. Even two way / all switches. Plus if you can Martindale all the sockets to make sure they are wired correctly.
We had to find 3 faults winthin our installation.
Once your tutor has initiated the 3 faults [if you have 3 - you will need to confirm] then check the lights. If any fail to switch on then you have your first fault. Then check the sockets with your Martindale, again, it will show any problems and if there is than thats your second fault.
Cant remember my 3rd fault but I have posted about it so hit the search button and have a browse.

Remember - your not there to be tricked. If you have to find 3 faults and you find 3 faults [no matter how silly they seem] - JOB DONE!

 

[leatherman]

had 7 faults in the circuits various ones cant even remember now lol

passed though!

open book exam i just used my inspection and testing practical book step by step tests !

 

[Steve D]

Hi,

I had my faultfinding practical exam last week and got a distinction.

We picked 9 fault cards (I think there are 20 odd different possible cards). We had 2 inspection faults (eg, there is a serious breach of BS7671 with the consumer unit, or the shower works but there is a serious breach of BS7671. We had to pick 1 motor fault card, 2 ring final circuit fault cards and 5 'general' fault cards.

I chose to do the inspection faults first as I thought they'd be the easiest to find, but they weren't - these inspection faults took ages to find.

They are normally all dead tests, so as long as you know your continuity, polarity & IR tests then you should be fine - just take your time and think logically.

5 out of 9 gets you a pass, 6 out of 9 gets you a credit and 7 out of 9 gets you a distinction.

Good luck

Cheers
Steve

 

[madeinengland]

Hi,

I had my faultfinding practical exam last week and got a distinction.

We picked 9 fault cards (I think there are 20 odd different possible cards). We had 2 inspection faults (eg, there is a serious breach of BS7671 with the consumer unit, or the shower works but there is a serious breach of BS7671. We had to pick 1 motor fault card, 2 ring final circuit fault cards and 5 'general' fault cards.

I chose to do the inspection faults first as I thought they'd be the easiest to find, but they weren't - these inspection faults took ages to find.

They are normally all dead tests, so as long as you know your continuity, polarity & IR tests then you should be fine - just take your time and think logically.

5 out of 9 gets you a pass, 6 out of 9 gets you a credit and 7 out of 9 gets you a distinction.

Good luck

Cheers
Steve

my exam was 12 visuals to find and 12 faults to test and rectify. how can the exams be so different.

 

[madeinengland]

cheers mac. got my 302 practical on 30th and i get my results for 303 written exam tonight.

quick question about 302.

The main testing of rings, lights, radials etc I am ok with, but there is another circuit coming off (probably supposed to be a gagrage or other outbuilding) of the main CCU with SWA to another cons unit with a one way light and single mains socket.

how do I go about testing this "garage" side.

 

[c.boy]

hi

just get a continuity terster,and if a doesnt buzz or beep between the cable you are testing then 9 out o 10 thats your fault.just stay calm and keep your head thats the key!!!! hope all goes well for you pal!!!

 

[Non Sense]

cheers mac. got my 302 practical on 30th and i get my results for 303 written exam tonight.

quick question about 302.

The main testing of rings, lights, radials etc I am ok with, but there is another circuit coming off (probably supposed to be a gagrage or other outbuilding) of the main CCU with SWA to another cons unit with a one way light and single mains socket.

how do I go about testing this "garage" side.

Just done mine, i went about the same way as the "house" side the swa is the mains incomer. then test the garage circuit and lighting.
hope this helps
jason