Commercial EIRC testing tips advice

[MFS Electrical]

I always view the fittings as part of the circuit on a Periodic.

So you don’t take the lamps out of pendants? Fluros out of circuit And still manage to get acceptable readings? Maybe I need to change my MFT??? The other thing to be aware of is most of the old thorn fittings say disconnect before insulation testing In my apprentice days I blew up a few 1970s era chokes testing an old school more modern kit doesn’t mind so much but still skews the readings quite a bit

 

[Toneyz]

Try to get past certificates/reports as in most cases no D.B. circuit charts or ways marked up. Don't be daunted by loads of boards break it down into one bit at a time.

 

[MFS Electrical]

Try to get past certificates/reports as in most cases no D.B. circuit charts or ways marked up. Don't be daunted by loads of boards break it down into one bit at a time.

Good point and even if it is marked up or is listed on the old cert don’t believe it make sure yourself nearly lost an apprentice because of that last month youd think after 2.5 years he’d know better

 

[westward10]

So you don’t take the lamps out of pendants? Fluros out of circuit And still manage to get acceptable readings? Maybe I need to change my MFT??? The other thing to be aware of is most of the old thorn fittings say disconnect before insulation testing In my apprentice days I blew up a few 1970s era chokes testing an old school more modern kit doesn’t mind so much but still skews the readings quite a bit

I have never blown anything up testing at 500v to earth and I disconnect nothing. I use a stand alone IR tester.

 

[Octopus]

They said that they just wanted a price for the test and not carrying out any remedial that may be required.

you are just quoting a price .............. Have you done a site visit?

Anyone who can quote for an EICR and any remedial work my have a better crystal ball than me!

 

[Gazthesparky]

you are just quoting a price .............. Have you done a site visit?

Anyone who can quote for an EICR and any remedial work my have a better crystal ball than me!

I haven’t quoted yet. I had a phone call and they asked for a price. I have gone back saying that lots need to be agreed ie limitations and such. Have said needs a site visit only then can a quote be provided.

They just wanted a price so we will wait and see

 

[Ian1981]

So you don’t take the lamps out of pendants? Fluros out of circuit And still manage to get acceptable readings? Maybe I need to change my MFT??? The other thing to be aware of is most of the old thorn fittings say disconnect before insulation testing In my apprentice days I blew up a few 1970s era chokes testing an old school more modern kit doesn’t mind so much but still skews the readings quite a bit

If you are connecting L-N together and testing to earth for IR testing,then it’s pointless to remove lamps.

 

[MFS Electrical]

If you are connecting L-N together and testing to earth for IR testing,then it’s pointless to remove lamps.

I stated that as the less preferable method though because you’re not really getting a true picture of the insulation resistance between line and nuetral

 

[Ian1981]

I stated that as the less preferable method though because you’re not really getting a true picture of the insulation resistance between line and nuetral

It would be extremely uneconomical and timely/costly to test directly L-N in anything larger than a domestic property and we are advised not to dismantle during eicr’s

 

[The Ghost]

The emergency lighting may be tested incidentally as sometimes it is on the same circuit as the lighting. I suppose you must agree with the client regards that. And it would of course be noted who agreed such a lim. But with loads of lims and IR testing between LN and PE the value of an EICR is less than it could be.

 

[MFS Electrical]

Watch out for chokes and digital ballasts on fluros and possibly led drivers as most of them don’t like 500v and will have to be disconnected or tested L&N together to earth but if it’s only a small shop disconnection would be the best method

Only if it’s a small shop like I said when your doing a hospital a school or similar disconnection just isn’t going to happen unless your apprentice annoys you one too many times

 

[westward10]

The emergency lighting may be tested incidentally as sometimes it is on the same circuit as the lighting. I suppose you must agree with the client regards that. And it would of course be noted who agreed such a lim. But with loads of lims and IR testing between LN and PE the value of an EICR is less than it could be.

IR tests on a Periodic between line/neutral are generally pointless and do not devalue an EICR. Test results make up a small part of any noted Codes.

 

[MFS Electrical]

IR tests on a Periodic between line/neutral are generally pointless and do not devalue an EICR. Test results make up a small part of any noted Codes.

I’m with @Vortigern on this if your doing an EICR you should really try to do it to the absolute best of your ability the regs ask for L-N tests so you should do them i am aware that they permit exceptions in some circumstances and allow you to test L&N to E but it’s always preferable to do the full test, otherwise what’s the point in ever doing the full test? I don’t think he means that it devalues it as in discredits it but when you carry out the EICR and test L&N to E then you can miss faults which are starting to develop deterioration etc etc so IMO the full test should be carried out where ever possible especially in situations where loads can readily be taken out of circuit.

 

[MFS Electrical]

I’d love some opinions on a vaguely related subject so we are carrying out in depth EICRs for a customer who has around 16 buildings on their site and many many DBs of course the usual -things added taken away no real meaningful legend to work from varying ages of equipment and varying quality of installs. Last Records were 1985 - I believe when most of the buildings were upgraded refurbed etc
Anyway we have come across thousands of circuits thousands of conduits and thousands of BS88-6 Fuses so far so good except when we attempt R1+R2 at the some of the multiple ring circuits after spending quite a while belling out and tracing we have discovered that many of the rings use conduits as CPCs-nothing wrong with that- but on some other parts of the ring there are CPCs and on some other parts (same ring)there are not so I’m thinking concealed JBs somewhere Zs readings are all spectacular so the conduits/CPCs/Parralell paths are providing good earths but and here’s the big but because of the situation with the CPCs and in most cases there are no CPCs at the DB for the rings so R1+R2 isn’t a viable option and because of the layout of the buildings and their use long wander R2 leads aren’t really a viable option either would it be acceptable for the circuits affected to be tested using the live test R1+R2 setting of the megger MFT 1720 and left at that ? We would of course note on the certificate that this was the method we used to conduct the tests on these particular circuits it just feels a little wrong if you know what I mean and not in a good way
I have been messing about with the setting and comparing it to readings obtained through traditional R1+R2 tests and it’s not that far away.
Or should we be looking for another method/pressing to use an R2 lead (roughly 550m though)

 

[Risteard]

Insulation testing between live conductors is wholly unrealistic for periodic inspection and testing (even domestic) and serves little purpose. You would be as likely to introduce a fault as find one.