Advice needed

2k2 · May 4, 2010

Hi Please forgive me if this sounds simple, but i have just started on my own,whilst in the past i just installed from site to site and the boss did all the testing, so know iam on my own i have to do the certs and pir's and its a new world all over again.
so i was doing a pir yesterday every thing was going fine until i got to the ring main first it was cabled in two sizes at the ccu but at every socket it was 2.5mm so somewhere there must be a join.
when i did the continuity of the ring test's most the readings where over 1 ohm should this be close to 0?
then when i did the IR test i got 180 which slowly went up to 297 on L to Pe, Pe to N i got 180 which again slowly went to 276. put on L to N i got 0.02.
I looked in the OSG and it looks like it would fail but could anyone tell why this might be.and would it be ok if it was on a RCD? the Z's was 0.32 and R1+R2 was 0.22
Also they have afew sockets which has a plug on the end of flex and then pluged into the nearest socket!! and some sockets have been spured off useing 2.5 flex. what would you recommend i report for this!!
Any help would be great

nickblake · May 4, 2010

So what was the other size of cable ?? or was it an old stranded 2.5 which looks larger that the 2.5 with solid conductors ,200 plus reading are ok even 1 ohm although a little high these can be like this in older properties ,the reason the readings are rising on insulation tests is probable because there is an appliance plugged in ,be carefull you don blow any appliances up testing at 500 volts ,spurs of a ring are ok as long as they are not daisy chained rule 1 socket 1 spure unless protected by an fused spur zs readings are ok r1 r2 at 0.22 is low if your reading on continuity were over 1.00 its possible you have a ring within a ring ,as for the 2.5mm flex used for spurs thats not a problem as long as the conections are tight and correct

2k2 · May 4, 2010

Thank you for your reply mate.it may of been old 2.5 but it had single condutors not solid it did throwe abit Must say!
So I wouldn't need to write the sockets on the flex up ?
Would you cut the tag off the meter to replace the tails or is that a no no ?

m4tty · May 4, 2010

0.02 MOhm on IR is a fail mate. Anything over 1MOhm is a pass but would require investigation if under 2MOhm. HTH

2k2 · May 4, 2010

Sorry mate i misslead you I know it's a fail but I can't find why do you think I may of left a plug in or somthing

Mark_Burgess · May 4, 2010

2k2 said:
Sorry mate i misslead you I know it's a fail but I can't find why do you think I may of left a plug in or somthing

There could be something plugged in somewhere, central heating controls spurred of the ring, booster in the loft, neon lights on socket, plug in air freshener.

Check again there is probably some thing still connected.

WayneL · May 4, 2010

2k2 said:
Hi Please forgive me if this sounds simple, but i have just started on my own,whilst in the past i just installed from site to site and the boss did all the testing, so know iam on my own i have to do the certs and pir's and its a new world all over again.
so i was doing a pir yesterday every thing was going fine until i got to the ring main first it was cabled in two sizes at the ccu but at every socket it was 2.5mm so somewhere there must be a join.
when i did the continuity of the ring test's most the readings where over 1 ohm should this be close to 0? Which results were over 1 ohm - L-L, N-N, E-E?? And why should they be close to 0?
then when i did the IR test i got 180 which slowly went up to 297 on L to Pe, Pe to N i got 180 which again slowly went to 276. put on L to N i got 0.02. Something still plugged in?
I looked in the OSG and it looks like it would fail but could anyone tell why this might be.and would it be ok if it was on a RCD?Would what be okay if it was on an RCD?
the Z's was 0.32 and R1+R2 was 0.22
Also they have afew sockets which has a plug on the end of flex and then pluged into the nearest socket!! and some sockets have been spured off useing 2.5 flex. what would you recommend i report for this!!
Any help would be great

Not being nasty, mate, but judging by your questions, do you really think you are competent to be doing a PIR?

And why would you want to be changing meter tails on a PIR - it's just a report?

ggf · May 4, 2010

Hello just joined.are you doing a pir for a ccu change? and is that why you have asked if that will be ok on a rcd mate?
Sounds like somthing is pluged in still bud!! Is this your first pir

shane · May 4, 2010

2k2 said:
Hi Please forgive me if this sounds simple, but i have just started on my own,whilst in the past i just installed from site to site and the boss did all the testing, so know iam on my own i have to do the certs and pir's and its a new world all over again.
so i was doing a pir yesterday every thing was going fine until i got to the ring main first it was cabled in two sizes at the ccu but at every socket it was 2.5mm so somewhere there must be a join.
when i did the continuity of the ring test's most the readings where over 1 ohm should this be close to 0?
then when i did the IR test i got 180 which slowly went up to 297 on L to Pe, Pe to N i got 180 which again slowly went to 276. put on L to N i got 0.02.
I looked in the OSG and it looks like it would fail but could anyone tell why this might be.and would it be ok if it was on a RCD? the Z's was 0.32 and R1+R2 was 0.22
Also they have afew sockets which has a plug on the end of flex and then pluged into the nearest socket!! and some sockets have been spured off useing 2.5 flex. what would you recommend i report for this!!
Any help would be great

you realy do sound confussed pal, are you qualified, do you have ya 2391?? it does sound like there is some thing either plugged in somewere or there is a fused spur , or have they tapped off for an out side light which is switched on or a shed or garage.. hasve a look m8... if ya not qualified m8 pleaese stop now!!!