3Ph+N Newbie help

[luke85]

Hi folks,
My sincere apologies for my ignorance, my boss put me though a pat test course about 6 months ago but i haven't done any testing until last week, he has supplied me with a megger PAT420 which is an awesome piece of kit...
I'm not from an electrical background which is really annoying, anyways..

I'm looking a bit of advice on how to test a 3 phase + neutral extension lead. Do i make an adapter for the machine?

also some advice on testing the 3 phase + neutral appliances would be good too - however i did read that this is best left to an electrician.

Thanks,
Luke

 

[telectrix]

Hi folks,
My sincere apologies for my ignorance, my boss put me though a pat test course about 6 months ago but i haven't done any testing until last week, he has supplied me with a megger PAT420 which is an awesome piece of kit...
I'm not from an electrical background which is really annoying, anyways..

I'm looking a bit of advice on how to test a 3 phase + neutral extension lead. Do i make an adapter for the machine?

also some advice on testing the 3 phase + neutral appliances would be good too - however i did read that this is best left to an electrician.

Thanks,
Luke

that's good advice.

 

[Marvo]

I'm tempted to agree, testing of 3-phase appliances can't be done safely by an unqualified guy, there's different types of 3 phase supply arrangements which you'd at least need knowledge about. If it was just domestic single phase appliances I'd say maybe but in this case you're going to need a qualified sparky.

 

[luke85]

does this apply to the extension leads as well?
BTW You guys rock!
Thanks very much for the help.
Luke

 

[amlu]

continuity test on all the cores and insulation resistance test between them. plus a visual check if everything is ok.
can be done with a megger tester, not sure about your new shiny machine, better leave testing a 3 phase kit to a qualified electrician...

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Did your PAT testing course cover 3 phase appliances? If not then you need to tell your boss that you are not competant to carry out those tests.

 

[ifindoubtdont]

If things go wrong how competent do you feel, are you are satisfied you could stand up in court and PROVE your competence, if so fine. If the PAT machine said FAIL do you understand why. I don't want to sound negative but when you click with electrics it's like Aurora Borealis, it all makes sense. It is well worth taking some courses in testing, if you are not sure why the answer is XYZ then question it. Feel comfortable with what you are doing. In a different life I was a Police Officer and dealt with accident investigation, by using maths you could prove or disprove a witness statement. If you know the drag coefficient of the road and the length of the skid mark you can work out the speed of the car when the wheels locked. For those who are scratching their heads it was before ABS brakes. The same applies to electrics, you need to understand the proven mathematics and compere them with your tests. If your tests don't equal the proven maths then question it.

 

[PEG]

Hi pal, I don't believe the 420 lists 3ph,just 240 and 110. You need to get your boss to confirm the suitability of your test equipment,to conduct the tests he requires performing. That + training = safe,happy testing :icon12:

 

[luke85]

From what I've read you can get an adapter lead to test 3ph on the 420, but regardless of the machines capabilities I've told him I'm unable to test any 3ph equipment and he's happy enough.

Unfortunately he's like all bosses these days, it's cheaper to pay for me to do the course than it is to get a pro in every 3months/6months/1yr depending on the gear he needs done, I told him that any person doing pa testing should be from an electrical background but sure why would he listen?!?

anyways, thanks very much for all your help, and no doubt I'll be back with more annoying questions
Many Thanks,
Luke