AM2 - Opinions needed

[Jony]

Problem solved

 

[Darkwood]

it was 20yrs ago since i did mine but need to ask was their any spec as to which cable to use i.e. a design load and theretical situations so as to give you a need to install 1.5 as 1.0mm would be underated, if not i would think its harsh but if so its a fail from me as in real life you could have created a fire hazard.had you got the size wrong.

 

[Jony]

Hi there thanks for the reply, Nope it didnt give any sort of Design Load it just had a picture of the DB and the size of the cable (1.5) coming out from the 6A Breaker, I can understand why I would be given a fail yet I do think it's very very harsh considering I got all the other sections right so its not really a case of me not being able to read diagrams it was just a simple and stupid error. I read somewhere that a student done exactly the same thing as me - Appealed against it and it got overturned + he passed, Still unsure on what to do next..

 

[Darkwood]

Appeal using your knowledge of design and cable sizing to argue your case explaining it was a simple error on your part but as for your installation in no way was unsafe nor did it contravene any regulations, showing this ability to express why you think its harsh with worded understanding of the reg's etc should put you on good ground for a successful appeal, just saying i think your decision is wrong may not cut the mustard. Either way you've nothing to lose as its already got a fail so go for it.
Its depends on their reply though to the points you make, they could argue that following; as with an on site electrical schematics it is essential for when others have designed it that your interpret it correctly, out in the field an error like this could be costly if not dangerous.

 

[IQ Electrical]

Hey guys , Heres the problem iv had. A couple of days ago I completed my AM2 , during the functional tests everything worked fine and correctly so naturally I assumed everything was looking good however on recieving my results I failed on the Lighting and passed on everything else in that sub section (Installation). The reason behind the fail is I used 1.0mm instead of 1.5mm. Of course I am going crazy failing an 8hr 30 minute exam just for using the wrong size cable by 0.5 of a mm. My question is this - If I decided to appeal against the result do I have any case at all ? or would I just get knocked back as the drawing stated to use 1.5mm. All comments are welcome, thanks .

I have to say, I agree with Darkwood, if you're given a 'spec' and you deviate from it, whether through a mistake or a decision, it can have consequences. In the real world, 1.0mm instead of 1.5 can mean an exceeded maximum volt-drop figure or a failed measured Zs value.
How much do you have to resit?

 

[Jony]

Thanks for the replies guys , Yeah im in 2 minds as to make an appeal or not .. And iv just got the Installation to do. Passed the Fault finding, Testing and on-line exam. Just highly frustrated that a stupid mistake it going to cost me to do the whole installation again ... another 8 and a half hours -.-. Have a feeling that if I appeal they will just mention the points both of you guys have made and not see it in my perspective.

 

[cdavies33]

Hate to sound harsh, but you were given a spec and the spec must be followed. I almost did the same with my using the sy install. But lucky I had enough time to rip it out!

 

[Darkwood]

On the silver lining of this think it lucky this was theoretical and just an annoying stepping stone.. out on the field it could of have cost you your job and at worse killed someone but im sure this error wont occur again anytime soon as its already left a nasty taste in your mouth.... good look !

 

[Jony]

Yeah its quite a big fault and indeed it won't be happening again , I probably won't persue it any further with appealing against it. Thanks for the help guys much appreciated

 

[RETIREDSPARKY]

Jony you have learnt the hard way but to be honest you would have been told and be given all the information necessary to complete your composite without any mistakes. The information pack contains the specification for all sections of the assessments you carried out, and you are not the first to make elementary mistakes by not reading fully what is required.
He's another tip you can tell all "self assessment check list is now mandatory" no check list signed by all three parties no test.

 

[parker56]

Jony take it on the chin & go for the retake,

 

[Monks]

No joy on the other thread, so I'll ask here:

I've got my AM2 in a week and I've been going over aspects of the assessment for the last few days so I hopefully don't make a silly mistake when the heat is on at the test centre.

I've been advised to just be calm and treat it as a normal install; i.e. if something is wrong, it isn't good enough. The main advice I've got is to just follow every aspect of the job spec that I will be given on the day, so obviously that is my plan. However, I haven't done much testing in the past and, as I still have a few days to prepare, I thought that I might as well ask the forum's contributors for some advice and pointers to help me out with a few things:

- Continuity: there is no box for R1 + RN on the testing form. Do I just make a note of it on the testing form, or is it not required in the AM2?

- On my insulation resistance test I plan to do a 'global' ten point test between all of the phases and earth from the mains switch. Obviously I have to remove all of the sensitive equipment, so I plan to put the light fitting's conductors, CO2 detector, RCD socket and the supply and load side of the motor into connectors and remove any neons. I also plan to switch off the spur on the S-plan heating system and I will then take the lowest readings I have for the global test and put them on the test form. However, I have been told to then connect the phase and neutral of the load side of the S-plan's spur and do an insulation resistance test through the heating system between those jointed cables and earth. This new value will be the S-plan's L-E insulation resistance value.

Will that be OK?

- I don't have any questions about Ze, PFC, and Zs (I plan to just summate this with my R1 + R2 values with Ze).

- Do I then do a phase rotation test? I'll be honest, I'm not sure how to do this. I remember once watching my boss do this test on a big chiller about a year ago and he just set the multitester to this function and put a three pronged lead on L1, L2 and L3. Is there a tester about that points in the right hand direction or something? How do I use this? Does this test come after all of the others I've mentioned as I can't see it listed in the On-Site Guide.

- RCD test and functional tests. Just remember to set the tester to 30mA and test both sides of sin wave at half, 1X, and 5X the tripping current. Do I record highest value here for each?

- Finally, I've heard different things from different people, but will I be required to check all my measured values comply with BS7671? If the answer is yes, I've found on the 'notes of schedule of test results' where to find these values in both the Regs and On-Site Guide.

How does all that sound? Have I missed anything required for the AM2? Never done fault finding before so that's gonna be a big stab-in-the-dark for me, so I'm just going to read as much as I can about faults in the next few days. The two-way lighting circuit is completely different to what I've always done in the past, but it seems pretty straight forward.

Any advice or help would be much appreciated. Cheers.

 

[Monks]

Anyone?

Been reading as much as I can about testing over the last few days and I've found answers to most of my questions:

- Polarity of supply is just confirming that there are 400V between L1, L2, & L3, and 230V across everything else. As I'll be using a voltage indicator to prove live I suppose I might as well take advantage of the readings I get here. IMO, it makes sense to do phase rotation after PFC at the mains. Do I have to do pahse rotation on the DOL as well? If so, on the supply or load side?

- Still none-the-wiser on insulation resistance for everything, though. I've read that some people have passed just testing up to the S-Plan's spur, and others have had to test the whole thing at 500V whilst linking L and N together and testing between that and earth and using that as the value for L-E on the testing form. I'm going to put all sensitive equipment (CO2 detector, DOL, light fitting, S-Plan) in connectors on my global test whilst testing everything at 500V just to be sure, but I'm not quite sure how to go about testing the S-Plan.

- On the subject of the S-Plan, do I have to check continuity on all of the valves and such, or just the supply cables that I have installed?

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Monks]

Well, no feedback but I passed it first time anyway and I'm now part of the 'fully qualified' club. If anyone has any questions about the AM2 then feel free to ask.

As an aside, I have regularly logged onto this forum for help and advice throughout my apprenticeship and I have almost always been helped out by someone. A massive thank you to all those who have answered questions and given sound advice! Cheers!

 

[parker56]

Well done Monks, onwards & upwards good luck for the future.:26:
ps who did you take it with?