Inadequate earth

[Akanami]

Hi all, i'm new here and hopefully you can help.

Ive been asked to look at a DB for a small office area which apparently has an inadequate earth and they won't issue a (COC). I have to carry out a continuity test on the CPC which is fine but what value should I expect to see and if its too high what should I do?

Many thanks

 

[HandySparks]

Are you an electrician?

What fault-finding experience do you have?

Do you have a copy of the current edition of BS7671?

Who says there is an inadequate earth, and why?

What's a COC?

What's the size of this CPC you're going to test and what's its length?

What type is the earthing system?

What's the rating of the supply to the DB, what's the cable size, and how is it protected?


That'll do to be going on with.

 

[Marvo]

Hi Akanami welcome to the forum.

Ive been asked to look at a DB for a small office area which apparently has an inadequate earth and they won't issue a (COC).

I'm assuming from the CoC comment you're based in South Africa although you've put England as your location in your information.

If the installation failed a CoC due to poor earthing why are you doing the the repairs rather than the guys who did the testing? What results did they get when the tested the earthing?

I have to carry out a continuity test on the CPC which is fine but what value should I expect to see and if its too high what should I do?
Many thanks

You haven't given much info. What is the earthing arrangement? You need to perform an earth impedance test, do you have a suitable tester? You'd need to refer to SANS10142 Part1 for the required impedance, if it's too high then start fault finding.

 

[Badged01]

I'm assuming from the CoC comment you're based in South Africa although you've put England as your location in your information.

Im glad you've potentially resolved that as I was just about to comment around what a COC has got to do with an electrical installation in the UK!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

what utter drivvel from the O/P

look lads....he clearly aint an electrician....caus anyone who was the author of that rubbish doesn`t even know the basics....

 

[Marvo]

Lol, I though it might cause some confusion. A CoC is a certificate of compliance, it's the local equivalent of the UK's EICR I think. Any time a property changes hands or any time substantial changes or additions are made to an installation a CoC must be issued supposedly by the electrician that worked there. If Akanami isn't registered he can't issue a CoC so I'd assume he's working for or under the supervision of someone else.....

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Lol, I though it might cause some confusion. A CoC is a certificate of compliance, it's the local equivalent of the UK's EICR I think. Any time a property changes hands or any time substantial changes or additions are made to an installation a CoC must be issued supposedly by the electrician that worked there. If Akanami isn't registered he can't issue a CoC so I'd assume he's working for or under the supervision of someone else.....

should be at home then Marvo...

plenty of coc`s in here....

 

[Badged01]

what utter drivvel from the O/P

look lads....he clearly aint an electrician....caus anyone who was the author of that rubbish doesn`t even know the basics....

That was going to be my next question. If he has an 'inadequate' earth waht has testing the CPC got to do with it .... although from Marvo's reply perhaps the CPC is the earthing conductor as we know it?!?!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

That was going to be my next question. If he has an 'inadequate' earth waht has testing the CPC got to do with it .... although from Marvo's reply perhaps the CPC is the earthing conductor as we know it?!?!

well..if thats the case then just where the hell is the defineing line

as in "main earthing"...and "CPC: circuit protective conductor"..

and god help em when it comes to bonding.....

no....just a clueless O/P...thats all...

 

[Marvo]

Nah, a CPC is a CPC even in Africa, he's talking about the supply earth to the board being high impedance.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Nah, a CPC is a CPC even in Africa, he's talking about the supply earth to the board being high impedance.

sub or intake?


if main intake then surely a DNO issue..(unless TT)

if a sub..then i suggest he started top end of said sub....then move on...

 

[Badged01]

Nah, a CPC is a CPC even in Africa, he's talking about the supply earth to the board being high impedance.

In that case sounds like hes totally lost in his terminology, or as Glenn says hes clueless!

 

[GLENNSPARK]

In that case sounds like hes totally lost in his terminology, or as Glenn says hes clueless!

same thing...

 

[Geordie Spark]

Im glad you've potentially resolved that as I was just about to comment around what a COC has got to do with an electrical installation in the UK!

One more CoC around here isn't going to make much difference is it?

 

[micknew]

Where's the clue that he's from South Africa?