cpc continuity on pir

[charlie]

when doing a p.i.r. on a commercial building(have only ever done them on domest) how do u measure r1+r2 or r2 on high level lighting cct ie unable to reach ??
Do u measure at the switch and put this in the limitations as this is the only point of possible contact under normal cicumstances ??

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

yeah thats fine if you cant get up there
limitation it is
also l-n ins res either not able to test or tested with switches open

 

[charlie]

cheers for that.

 

[malcolmsanford]

These are very good for hi bay lights on PIR

Electricial R2 Testing Telescopic Pole - KK-TPR2 - 17th Edition Test Equipment - 17th Edition Accessories - R2 Testing 5.6m Telescopic Pole - KK-TPR2

With use with a wnader lead it can get your R2 which is all that should be required

 

[Deleted member 9648]

You are not likely in most of these sort of circumstances to be able to get a true R2 reading via the above method without disconnecting the CPC from the fitting,due to it being bolted to steel trunking,structural steel etc, you could get a low continuity reading even if no cpc was present. If the above method was used that should be noted on the cert.

 

[malcolmsanford]

PVC conduit ??

On a PIR I would have no problem with using method 2 for CPC continuity. If you had a factory with Hi bay or even banks of flourescents you wouldn't dismantle them to disconnect the CPC to test for continuity I'd use wander lead and method 2. After all your just prooving continiuty through the circuit

A PIR is not an intrusive inspection don't have my GN 3 with me but I think it even says that you can do more harm to the installation by over dismantling. If there were no previous PIR's or EIC and the installation was old or the eniviroment was particularly harsh then you may have to go down the road of major dismantling to get R1 + R2 to find the Zs for a circuit.

I honestly can't see a problem on the majority of PIR's with using wander leads and telescopic arms like these. Bottom line is there are no set tests as such for a PIR it's the inspectors call. In table 3.3 of the GN 3
Dosen't it also say that for CPC continuity can be achieve between earth terminal of distribution boards and the following exposed conductive parts..

Accesible exposed conductive parts of current using equipment.

I also think that there is a note recommending that accessibilty is just 3m standing.

As I said I don't have the GN 3 with me so maybe totally wrong, If I'am then sorry.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Didnt mean to trash your method malcolm,sorry if it appeared that way,I've done an R2 using similar methods before and you are proving an earth fault path is there.....But as stated you could concievably get a satisfactory reading even if no cpc was present at the luminaire,I would record the limitations of the method on the cert to cover myself,that is the only point I was making.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Have to admit never used one of those extension poles. For Hi bay in the past I was always lucky enough get a fork lift with a cage. Was wondering how easy they were to use, seen the old fire alarm ones for removing the heads for cleaning, as anyone used the extension pole.