Consumer unit change testing

[Ghost2011]

hi all I've got my first consumer unit change to do as I'm using this as my first nic assessment. My question is when doing my ir test the whole house is on led downlights about 30 of then plus under kitchen 12v led and a lot of sub sockets, will all,of theses need to be disconnected to do these test. Also do I need to do r1+r2 on every downlight.

Any advice is much appreciated as this is my first nic assessment after this change.

Thanks

 

[Toneyz]

If there was a break in the earth conductor prior to the final light, he wouldn't be able to get the reading as there would be no earth path back to CU.

I rarely bother with R1+R2, usually Zs-Ze although i feel thats a brave statement on this forum

Zs - Ze Please tell me your joking

 

[hightower]

Zs - Ze Please tell me your joking

I've heard a number of sparks say Zs - Ze = R1 + R2 (including my uncle who I work for)..... wowser.

 

[westward10]

Zs-Ze=R1+R2, indeed it does.

 

[Midwest]

ohhh, here we go. Nothing good on the tele

 

[LankyWill]

Zs - Ze Please tell me your joking

Joking im not. Zs-Ze does equal R1+R2, its a very popular method of testing and not to mention quicker.

 

[GL4Spark]

I understand some people have stated you cannot use Zs - Ze to calculate R1 + R2 due to parallel paths being present... but aren't they also present during continuity tests? I have always been told you can't backwards calculate but now I'm curious as to why

 

[Toneyz]

It is the resistance of the line and cpc conductors of that circuit,I'm not saying that in most cases the result is about the same.eg you do a loop test of a circuit take a immersion heater circuit and that circuit cpc is loose/broken etc loop test shows earthing ok due to a paralell path of the copper pipe via water bond pipework gets altered plastic intersection T added to pipe for other water supply that paralell path is no more then there is no earth to that circuit.

 

[unconditional]

Low current testing is also more revealing of faults like high resistance connections than plugging in a loop tester. Is voltage sensitive equipment still an issue with modern testers at 500v? I know the current limiting on mine stops at quite low voltages on lower resistances, and only applies 500 on big resistances.

 

[GL4Spark]

But if you were to do an (R1 + R2) test on said immersion circuit with the broken cpc you would also get a reading would you not? I understand what you're saying but the regs don't require us to remove bonding conductors for the test, so we would have parallel paths in both cases.

 

[Risteard]

There is no merit in this Zs-Ze approach. The whole point of a dead continuity test is to ensure the cpc is there BEFORE energising. If a live Zs test is just done then there is absolutely no point in pretending R1+R2 was measured just to fill in a box.

So do an R2 or R1+R2 before energising, or if you just do the Zs then at least state that that is all you have done rather than making up useless figures.

 

[westward10]

This is not an Initial Verification and tests can be carried out as if it was a Periodic Inspection in which case it is perfectly acceptable to use the EFLI test as proof for earth continuity.

 

[Risteard]

This is not an Initial Verification and tests can be carried out as if it was a Periodic Inspection in which case it is perfectly acceptable to use the EFLI test as proof for earth continuity.

Well, it is an initial verification (hence the Electrical Installation Certificate). BUT the certified work relates ONLY to the replacement of the distribution board (which will be clear in the extent of the installation work undertaken box), and essentially the tests carried out following the inspection are simply to ascertain that the existing circuits are safe to put back into service on the new distribution board. You are not taking ownership of the existing installation. After all you cannot verify the route the wiring takes or any number of other things about the prior installation methods.

It still doesn't explain why you feel the need to fill in a box for something which you are stating that you have not tested and have also stated that you do not need to test. If that is your position then do not fill the box for it in! To do so is both misleading and pointless.

 

[westward10]

Has been tested by way of EFLI.

 

[Risteard]

Has been tested by way of EFLI.

Earth continuity has been verified with a Zs test. So why are you filling in a box stating R1+R2? You haven't done this test (which is not a criticism) - but why are you filling the box out? That is misleading and serves no purpose.

 

[westward10]

Earth continuity has been verified with a Zs test. So why are you filling in a box stating R1+R2? You haven't done this test (which is not a criticism) - but why are you filling the box out? That is misleading and serves no purpose.

I don't recall stating which boxes I fill in, I just agreed that Zs-Ze=R1+R2.