I think I've failed the 2330 practical exam.

Mr Curnow · Jun 9, 2011

In the end I wasn't even aloud to power my installation. The earthing terminal was somehow disconnected even though I didn't disconnect it. I also had to have extended time plus I was reading the location of the installations wrong. I thought that I had to choose installation location 4 because it was bay 4, well I was wrong with that. It's only about 50mm out though so I don't know if they will be bothered. The neutral was from the isolator was in the wrong position.

But I proved continuity of cpc, polarity and the insulation resistance was >1000M ohm.
I also completed the book that we were given.

How were we supposed to know how the double pole isolator worked if we hadn't learnt it before.

All I can say is I'm much better at theory than practical, it's not like you can go home and wire up a house. There should be more practical experience in these courses.

I probably did fail didn't I, even the teacher told me that I probably failed.

Mr Curnow · Jun 11, 2011

topquark said:
Termination in accessories, CU or both ends?

Well mainly in accessories like when you are trying to wire up a celing rose or some switches. I put the cable in tighten it up and then it falls out

. I don't find the consumer unit hard to terminate.

Paul.M · Jun 11, 2011

It may be worth buying some accessories and practicing at home. I always do a tug test on every termination that I do to make sure its got a good connection.

Mr Curnow · Jun 11, 2011

That is what I try but I'm worried if I might pull to hard and rip it out even though it would of stayed there. So I don't pull it too hard.

Mr Curnow · Jun 11, 2011

If I did pass this being a very luck person, I would be so happy, so relieved. But still I think I'm in trouble.

Adam W · Jun 11, 2011

Depends who's marking the exam. I thought I had everything perfect, but Brian marked it and I got a pass.
My mate over the other side powered his up and it didn't work, then the busbar fell out, but Bill marked it and he walked away with a credit.

Mr Curnow · Jun 11, 2011

Well I had bill for the exam brian was watching the other half of my group. I think a few people screwed up, one person blew a fuse, another had lights flashing like mine, I had the neutral in the wrong place. But I think I got all the questions right on the booklet plus I tested it, was fine.

Adam W · Jun 11, 2011

You might be alright then. As I say it's a bit of a lottery with those two - Bill seems quite demanding in the exam but the way he marks seems more lenient. You didn't get sent home halfway through, which is a good sign.
As I remember it if you've failed they let you know shortly after the exam so you've got time to rebook, otherwise you have to wait a couple of months for the final results.

Mr Curnow · Jun 11, 2011

What like just a few weeks or something?

Adam W · Jun 11, 2011

If you've failed, yeah. I can't remember if they do that for all the exams or just some of them.

topquark · Jun 11, 2011

Mr Curnow said:
Well mainly in accessories like when you are trying to wire up a celing rose or some switches. I put the cable in tighten it up and then it falls out . I don't find the consumer unit hard to terminate.

That's just down to more practice. There is a definate nack and order of doing things when doing CU/DBs and getting them to look neat.

Get yourself a bit of plywood and attach a few accessories to it (surface mount boxes where needed) and just practice (a bit artificial, but at least you'll get to know how much cable to trim back for each type of accessory etc.

Mr Curnow · Jun 11, 2011

topquark said:
That's just down to more practice. There is a definate nack and order of doing things when doing CU/DBs and getting them to look neat.

Get yourself a bit of plywood and attach a few accessories to it (surface mount boxes where needed) and just practice (a bit artificial, but at least you'll get to know how much cable to trim back for each type of accessory etc.

I didn't think of that, I should buy some accessories.