Lightning protection testing

[Engineer54]

Definitely only verify, thought I had to do a test to do that screwdriver poke sounds good! Lol

Why, it's just a 2 minute job to test it?? lol!! Thing is, if the DNO permanent supply isn't installed yet, do you know what bonding cables are what at that main DB's MET??

 

[Kate]

Not a scooby. Have only done dead tests on the new completed circuits so far. Haven't even seen the mains yet. The electricians who installed everything will be there when I go back to test. So I can ask them what's what. But they don't know how to test so couldn't ask them.

 

[Engineer54]

Not a scooby. Have only done dead tests on the new completed circuits so far. Haven't even seen the mains yet. The electricians who installed everything will be there when I go back to test. So I can ask them what's what. But they don't know how to test so couldn't ask them.

Pardon, who are these electricians that can install but don't know how to test?? lol!!

 

[Kate]

Oops should have realised that would spark something. Some of them did the 5/6 week course thing. Learnt enough to pass thats it. We all sub contract to one guy, of course he gets them for cheap labour costs. The boss can test but hates it so hires me to do it! There are one or two that sub contract a few days here and there that can test but they refuse to as well.

 

[KAS1]

They sound like semi skilled to me lol

 

[Engineer54]

Haha!! So this £2 million + property has been wired by Electrical Trainee DI's, and going by your OP, has some extensive kit involved. I wish you luck inspecting, testing and commissioning that little lot!! What's the electrical installation look like?? :drunk:

 

[chilliwilly]

There's always been conflictions of interest with testing lightning conductors since the regime of testing was put onto the electricians back in 81/83.

When I last did a job like the one your on, it was the same set up with power, and 5 submains on different parts of the building. I just ran a 25 mm bond to the conductor and labelled it, then connected it to the split earth bar. The niccy inspector just asked me my method of testing for continuity of the bond?

I told him as I had installed it, I didn't bother testing it along with the other bonds, I just worked out its resistance according to its length, I had a wander lead with me (an 100 m shagged roll of 2.5 single on a wooden reel) and he asked me to test it. And it was < 0.05 ohms just as I had recorded it on the EIC. When I asked him just out of interest if the electrode would've have been suitable for a TT, he said no as it would've had dual functionality?

 

[Engineer54]

I'm just wondering now if it was a specialist company that installed this LP system!! lol!!

If it was, then a full test certificate issued by the said company should be available to the electrical testing operative, to confirm that the overall Ra value is below 10 ohms, prior to the bonding conductor from this LP system being connected to the electrical installations MET!!

 

[Kate]

2 blokes have ran it all way through, one did the quick course, the other is official. Any/every one else has used it as a hospital job. And I'm just the tester

im hoping the specialist company who installed left a certificate.

 

[stuartcourt]

who is in charge of sparks on site, Do you work for for this guy a lot

 

[Guest55]

What's the electrical installation look like?? :drunk:

something like this probably .........





and a pic of Eng54 on his latest earth rod inspection.........




;-D

 

[Kate]

something like this probably .........

View attachment 18441



and a pic of Eng54 on his latest earth rod inspection.........


View attachment 18442

;-D

haha nearly peed I laughed so hard at that last picture!
The works all really good, perfect test results on the circuits. There's nothing wrong with the install at all. I didn't know how to test lightning protection.
This has gone so far off subject lol. I only slightly know two of the people who work for this one guy because we are all self employed. I haven't been working for him that long either and as I am the tester I go out after everything's finished on my own. The guys who have done the electrics are probably better then me at install, half the kit used is really specialist. I've done the official 4tear training route yet didn't know about lightning protection....that can't be good!!

 

[onions1066]

Is that an analogue robin continuity tester in your pic? Do you still use it?

 

[Guest55]

no standard electricians course , including any by C&G , include lightning rod installation and testing.
its a very niche type of work thats best left to the specialists , no shame in that
even i know bugger all about it , its just im really good at blagging myself as an expert.
;-)

 

[Kate]

Is that an analogue robin continuity tester in your pic? Do you still use it?

Its the only work related pic I could find. A good 4 years old. No I have megger MFT1553. Didn't think a photo of me in a dress etc would go down too well.