Basic Testing Procedures

[Silly Sausage]

What are the differences between the EICR & EIC.

The letter R

 

[Regs]

The letter R

OK if were going to be silly apart from r, schedule of inspections and condition report inspection schedule.

Then is it just observations?

 

[Kate]

Do you not know which circumstances to use either report?

If you do not...you should not be testing

 

[Regs]

Do you not know which circumstances to use either report?

If you do not...you should not be testing

Yes.
& why cant i test with others whom can?

 

[Sintra]

Regs this is not the topic of this thread and I'm not going to have it trashed with irrelevant content.

 

[Babs]

Brilliant post. I've been trying to understand testing methods for five years. i understood the "simplicity" of carrying out testing after reading this thread once...

 

[chris65]

Great read guys, having been off the tools for a long time due to illness this thread has made things a lot simpler. Took my 236/2 in 1986 and only just passed my 17th last month, lots of hard work ahead for sure. Thanks again Chris

 

[Lee76]

this about right?

1 Safe isolation
· Remove Cover
· Identify the point of isolation for the system or circuit. Lock off, place warning label and keep the key to the lock with yourself
· Select approved test equipment and ensure that it works correctly by testing on the proving unit.
· Test the outgoing side of the means of isolation (Main Switch, MCB, Fuse, etc.) to make sure it is dead.

Single Phase installations test to confirm that there is no voltage between:
- Line and Neutral
- Line and Earth
- Neutral and Earth.
· Re-test the test equipment on the proving unit

The following tests are carried out with the Consumers main switch isolated
2 Extenal earth fault loop impedance - ZE
3 Re-connect the Earthing conductor and measure your PFC
PSCC Prospective short circuit current measured between L & N

PEFC Prospective earth fault current measured between L & E

PFC Prospective fault current the highest reading from the 2 tests above
4) Check the main earthing conductors and main bonding conductors are continuous to Gas/Water
5) Continuity of protective and bonding conductors (R1 + R2)
Taken at furthest point
6) Continuity of ring final circuit conductors
· r1 rn r2
· cross connect L1,N2, take reading on L2 and N1, remember it, then join them
readings at each socket should be ¼ of above value.
· Repeat above with L1, E2 and L2, E1 (highest reading R1+?R2)
7) Insulation Resistance
Test at 500v dc neutral & line
Test at 500v dc line - cpc
Test at 500v dc neutral to cpc
Toggle switches on 2 way lighting
8) Polarity


Reason: To check that all accesories are correctly connected to line, neutral and earth and that all switches and circuit breakers are connected in the line conductor only.

Method: The method for this is the same as for continuity and is usually done at the same time by operating switches etc whilst conducting the test.
9) Earth electrode resistance
An earth fault loop impedance tester is connected between line and earth at the origin of the supply and a test performed. The result of which is considered the resistance of the electrode (Ra)

10) remove locks and tags
11) Live polarity test
one probe shall be placed on the incoming neutral, and the other on the incoming line conductor, on the main breaker. The indicator should show it is live. One probe shall now be placed on the CPC and the other on the incoming line conductor. The indicator should show it is live. A test shall be preformed between CPC & incoming neutral. The indicator should show that it is not live.
12) replace Cover
13) Earth fault loop impedance
An earth fault loop impedance tester is connected to line and earth at the furthest point on the circuit and the test performed.
Results compared against table 41, rule of thumb, x 0.8,
14) RCD test

15) Functional testing

Reason: To make sure all switches, isolators, MCB's etc. work as they should.

Method. Self explanatory.

 

[Richard Burns]

Post resurrection! :egypt:

Mainly correct if briefly covered.
A couple of points in red/orange
4) Check the main earthing conductors and main bonding conductors are continuous to Gas/Water
5) Continuity of protective and bonding conductors (R1 + R2) This is not R1+R2 and is the same as 4.
This is the one
5) Continuity of radial circuits circuit protective conductors (R1+R2)
Maximum at furthest point
6) Continuity of ring final circuit conductors
· r1 rn r2
· cross connect L1,N2, and cross connect L2 and N1, You can measure between them at this point this will give you the value you expect on all other sockets which should be equal to (r1+rn)/4
readings at each socket should be ¼ of r1+rn.
· Repeat above with L1, E2 and L2, E1 (highest reading recorded as R1+R2)
7) Insulation Resistance
Test at 500v dc neutral & line
Test at 500v dc line - cpc
Test at 500v dc neutral to cpc
Toggle switches on 2 way lighting and test again, not required for Neutral to cpc

remember all the tests for the RCD
Idn at 0.5, 1, 5 (if 30mA) at both +ve and -Ve half cycles
Test button works

 

[Lee76]

Nothing wrong with a reserection, what was important to someone 5 years ago is important to me now
i have my niceic test in a few weeks so decided to make a quick guide.
Thanks for the corrections ,
ill update the master I made for myself now

 

[Zorro]

Post resurrection! :egypt:

Mainly correct if briefly covered.
A couple of points in red/orange
4) Check the main earthing conductors and main bonding conductors are continuous to Gas/Water
5) Continuity of protective and bonding conductors (R1 + R2) This is not R1+R2 and is the same as 4.
This is the one
5) Continuity of radial circuits circuit protective conductors (R1+R2)
Maximum at furthest point
6) Continuity of ring final circuit conductors
· r1 rn r2
· cross connect L1,N2, and cross connect L2 and N1, You can measure between them at this point this will give you the value you expect on all other sockets which should be equal to (r1+rn)/4
readings at each socket should be ¼ of r1+rn.
· Repeat above with L1, E2 and L2, E1 (highest reading recorded as R1+R2)
7) Insulation Resistance
Test at 500v dc neutral & line
Test at 500v dc line - cpc
Test at 500v dc neutral to cpc
Toggle switches on 2 way lighting and test again, not required for Neutral to cpc

remember all the tests for the RCD
Idn at 0.5, 1, 5 (if 30mA) at both +ve and -Ve half cycles
Test button works

Post resurrection! :egypt:

Mainly correct if briefly covered.
A couple of points in red/orange
4) Check the main earthing conductors and main bonding conductors are continuous to Gas/Water
5) Continuity of protective and bonding conductors (R1 + R2) This is not R1+R2 and is the same as 4.
This is the one
5) Continuity of radial circuits circuit protective conductors (R1+R2)
Maximum at furthest point
6) Continuity of ring final circuit conductors
· r1 rn r2
· cross connect L1,N2, and cross connect L2 and N1, You can measure between them at this point this will give you the value you expect on all other sockets which should be equal to (r1+rn)/4
readings at each socket should be ¼ of r1+rn.
· Repeat above with L1, E2 and L2, E1 (highest reading recorded as R1+R2)
7) Insulation Resistance
Test at 500v dc neutral & line
Test at 500v dc line - cpc
Test at 500v dc neutral to cpc
Toggle switches on 2 way lighting and test again, not required for Neutral to cpc

remember all the tests for the RCD
Idn at 0.5, 1, 5 (if 30mA) at both +ve and -Ve half cycles
Test button works

Use correct terminology not Main Earthing Conductor , it is the Earthing Conductor
Toggle Switch 2 way lighting in the on/off position.

Continuity of Final Circuits use method 1 between Line & CPC at the Consumer Unit
Method 2 for R2 value only, or Bonding Conductors- use long lead and disconnect one end of the conductor to avoid paths.
( Verify values by reference to tables of resistance values)

Stage 1
Ring Final Circuits measure end to end resistance of little r1=line. Little rn= neutral and little r2 = cpc
r1 = r2 depends on the size of the cpc (for 2.5mm/1.5mm T&E, r2 =1.67 r2)

Stage 2 X - connect line & neutral of opposite legs. Measure at each outlet between L & N. Value r1/2 for sockets on a ring. (or r1 + rn/4)
Any higher values should be investigated as they (may) indicate spurs

Stage 3 X - connect line & CPC of opposite legs. Measure at each outlet between line & CP. Value (r1 + r2/4)
for sockets on the ring final circuit
Spurs will read higher than sockets on the ring final circuit
Record the highest measured value as your ( R1 + R2)

Insulation Resistance
(Test 1 Live-Live) and between Live & CPC connected to the earthing arrangements (Test 2: Live-Earth).
Remember
Precautions and Preconditions when doing this test

SELV & PELV, 250V d.c. Minimum acceptable = 0.5M Ohm
Circuits up to 500V nominal, 500V d.c. Minimum = 1M Ohm
(surge protective devices: test at 250V d.c. Minimum)
Where equipment cannot be disconnected it is acceptable to measure between live conductors (connected together) and earth only.

 

[Lee76]

Thanks for that , sorry my bad , I did it as more of a brief for me so shouldn't have
really posted it , but thanks for filling in the extras.
I'll update my master too so I have correct terminology

regards
lee76

 

[jfjtfscvv]

There must be a table of numbers that the result must be under to be ok.

 

[Barrie Patrick]

Its an easy to follow and understand schedule of tests, its contains all the information I've been reading in the 17th EIT Testing Guides but clearer. Now I've got my own multitester I think I'll practice on my own house next week and do a full periodic inspection and Test. I find it hard to believe that having been an Electrician for 40 years I'm not actually qualified to do this professionally :-( Think I'll have to sign up for some courses LOL

 

[Simonslimline]

You dont need a qualification to carry out inspection & testing, when serving your apprenticeship you will have learned how to carry out an innitial verification of a new installation at least. Periodic inspections (EICR) possibly not but none the less no qualification as such is required, just competence and a sound knowledge of the installation that is having a report carried out on is necessarry.

Although some CPS schemes may ask for them these days. All that said, holding the 2394/5 is certainly worthwhile IMO.