AM2 Exam

[hbrad92]

I have my am2 exam in december so am looking for all the help i can get!

ive been all over ----------- and own guidance notes 3

I havent had a great deal of fault finding experience


Any relevent feedback will be appreciated!!

 

[Marvo]

Interesting choice of font.

Welcome to the forum hbrad.

 

[moospark]

just chill and read / understand the words.

 

[Richard Burns]

Welcome to the forum.
For fault finding it is important to know how the system you are checking actually should work then when you are doing the continuity tests you know the results you should be getting and so where there is something wrong.

 

[hbrad92]

Thanks moospark.. was looking for something a little more elaborate though.

 

[Maddison]

The fault finding will be something like no ring continuity. Mcb trips when lights are turned on ?, dead short somewhere, calling for hot water on s-plan but boiler does not fire ?, The generic power circuits will be straight forward to find but make sure you get your head around the s-plan to understand how to fault find on it. I think what moospark means is read the fault that they give you a couple times. Same goes for the installation, don't get complacent and presume they will use certain size cables for ring and lights etc. recommend doing the SWA and flex first as they take the longest. Hope this helps. Also Don't fall on the 3 phase safe isolation as I've heard guys have in the past.

 

[hbrad92]

Thanks a lot maddison. Do you know what to expect on the multiple choice exam?

 

[Adam_glover18]

Hi there brad I've just come out my time so still kind of remember the am2 and I found the fault finding really easy. All you need to do is with a bell set and prove every cable. There are 7 faults to find they range from open circuits, short circuits I even had one on the data point. But anything I can help you on feel free to ask.

 

[hbrad92]

Thanks Adam!

Erm i just wish there was a mock exam I could sit really just so I can know exactly what to expect!

I've filled out risk assessment forms before but can't imagine how there would be any risks except the obvious risk of electric shock?

i don't suppose there are any photos online of what the new am2 rig looks like. Bit cheatish but I just want to find out if it's what I am expecting

 

[Chrislittle]

Hi done mine a few months ago,


installation is easy, we got pre cut lengths of FP200, SWA and SY. If you get that just make sure all right length. Also choosing right breaker as they put the wrong ones in your box.
Oh and I think it was a 3 core and 4 core flex for heating system.
Don't worry about neatness in the board they don't mark you on that apparently but I still made mine look good as that's my standard and make sure you label 1L1 2L1 etc etc on circuits as that equals marks. You get diagrams for most of it just make sure you follow it as you will pass if you do. One example is the ring is run in 2.5 L&N and 1.5 CPC,


testing is is pretty simple you can have your books with you so mark them up as it helps. The assessors do give help but only once.


fault finding has pretty much been mentioned above just take your time, and think, as seeing the stop watch count down if pretty distracting


on line exam you will fly through multiple guess, think I used the osg and building regs once. The guy said to me read the question and pick answer that comes into your head.


hope that helps


chris

 

[Andy78]

Is MI still included in the AM2 ?
Just asking out of curiosity.

Really don't worry about the fault finding, from what I remember it's very simple stuff. They switch a fault in, give you symptoms of the fault and ask you to find it. I remember too not being very confident with my fault finding due, like you, to lack of experience. When I found faults on the rig, I thought they were trying to catch me out because they were so simple to find and diagnose.
Fault finding is being able to use a tester, knowing your theory, and being able to apply logic. That is all. Although later on the last step becomes "being able to apply logic and experience."

Best of luck

 

[jon090]

Alrite mate,,

Just make sure you follow EVERYTHING on the spec to the exact word! Alot of lads were getting caught up fitting breakers with a diff "make" breaker to that specified.

Another one was you must use push fit connectors in the back if switches (wago) and NOT screw connector blocks.

The modulator told me 60% fail on not doing the safe isolation procedure correctly, so get that nailed in!

Any questions, let us know.

 

[Maddison]

Is MI still included in the AM2 ?
Just asking out of curiosity.

Really don't worry about the fault finding, from what I remember it's very simple stuff. They switch a fault in, give you symptoms of the fault and ask you to find it. I remember too not being very confident with my fault finding due, like you, to lack of experience. When I found faults on the rig, I thought they were trying to catch me out because they were so simple to find and diagnose.
Fault finding is being able to use a tester, knowing your theory, and being able to apply logic. That is all. Although later on the last step becomes "being able to apply logic and experience."

Best of luck

No mate no MI anymore. Replaced with FP200. I don't think it's even taught how to terminate it anymore just made aware of it, what it is, where it was used etc etc I think it's only used in listed building nowadays is that right. Churches etc ?

 

[Andy78]

No mate no MI anymore. Replaced with FP200. I don't think it's even taught how to terminate it anymore just made aware of it, what it is, where it was used etc etc I think it's only used in listed building nowadays is that right. Churches etc ?

It's used wherever it's specified. It has more useful properties than just it's heat resistance so it can never be replaced by FP200 for all applications. MI has amazing mechanical protection and longevity, probably the best quality type of cable ever invented. Unfortunately it is not specified very often these days due to cost.

That's very sad that MI termination is not taught any more. How do they expect future sparkies to joint and repair sections of it, let alone install it ? This cable will be around for ages as it literally lasts lifetimes, so lack of these skills will be a feather missing from many caps.

 

[ChrisElectrical88]

They don't even need to bend the conduit anymore from what i understand, so the 2 most skilled tasks have been taken out so any Peter or Paul just has to do the wiring.

To the OP, AM2 when i did it was found to be easy by most, now its been made into a simple assessment. I had never done any fault finding before my AM2 and found all the faults quite easily.

Keep calm and crack on!