Classification Codes

[novolts]

Hi Guys I have been plucking up the courage to ask a couple of questions at the grand old age of 55 I am starting to do testing and inspection and maybe once I have asked my questions some may feel that my test instruments should be taken off me .I was carrying out a Periodic recently and the condition of the previous inspection was classed as satisfactory. The first thing I noticed was that a 20 amp circuit breaker was fitted at the main sub board however the circuit breaker did not fill the full cut out of the main sub board cover and it would not be hard to come into contact with the live conductor I would class this as a C2 The other potential risk I noticed was that there was a triple pole circuit breaker rated at 80 amps that fed a 3phase(line) isolator the isolator was fed with a 25mm SWA. The isolator was for a supply to a lift, the cable feeding the lift from the isolator was a 4 core 2.5 mm cable I did a load test on 1 of the phases if the lift as going from the 1st floor to the Gnd floor it drew 18amps however if it went from the Gnd floor to the 1st floor it drew 32 amps the lift is hydraulic I would also class this as a C2 sorry for the long thread but advice would be greatly appreciated novolts PS I am thinking that the quickest way to resolve the issue with the lift is to de rate if possible the size of the circuit breaker at the sub mains and install at least a 4core 6mm cable between the isolator and lift control panel

 

[Richard Burns]

Exposed live parts would be a C1, but the front of a board only needs to be IP2X so may pass.

You would need to know the spec of the lift since the 32A may be because of a fault and the design could be OK if there were appropriate protection to the 2.5mm cable. As is stands with an 80A OCPD for a 2.5mm cable would be C2.

Since you are doing an inspection it is not up to you to provide solutions, only assessment, however using 4mm pvc cable should be OK for 32A depending on cable type and installation method and replacing the isolator with a suitable breaker should be OK, however if the run is short and the control panel has OC protection then you may be OK anyway.

 

[telectrix]

agree entirely ^^^^

 

[novolts]

Thanks Richard,Thanks telectrix
The 20amp circuit breaker sits well inside the SuB Main DB and not flush with the DB cover so it is not IP2X compliant
To switch the breaker off you hare basically putting your finger inside the sub main board to switch the breaker off

Re the lift supply the cable between the load side of the isolator and the lifft panel is only about 2 meters long and there is a circuit breaker rated at 40 amps in the panel I thought that the cable the load side of the isolator had to be the same size as the supply cable and then be reduced in size after the 40 amp circuit breaker
Thanks guys for taking the time to read my post
I dont feel alone anymore:book:

 

[Richard Burns]

Sounds like the breaker is a C1.
The lift is more complex, there is some potential for "back fusing" where the cable is protected by the breaker downstream of it because the cable is unlikely to be damaged and the load is limited by the downstream breaker. Not ideal and not often used outside of larger installs. check the lift spec but does not sound ideal with a 40A for 2.5mm.