My Progress

[Spearmint]

I've been on a course (City & Guilds 2365 Level 2+3) for two months now, throughly enjoying it so far. Just doing two evenings a week whilst working full time during the day. I thought it'd be a good idea to keep a little running diary of my test rigs from the practical evenings, not just for me to look back on but to share with others undertaking similar courses.

So here's the completed rig from this evening, one way lighting via a junction box. I've also carried out safe isolation, tested R2 (0.02), tested R1+R2 (0.26), carried out the insulation resistance of which all came back at >1000. The only thing we couldn't carry out was the live test as another student from the full time course managed to blow the FCU supplying our test area, the switch on the FCU actually doesn't operate now apparently - his junction box went with a bang so I heard from the tutor.

Anyway... looking for criticism ideally so I can make improvements on the next rig, or a pat on the back if all is well!

 

[Resu]

Looks good bud maybe a bit heavy with the clips overall but your dressing/bends look tidy. In the fuseboard your neutral has a bit much copper exposed (this goes for all terminations - the rest are okay). Otherwise looking good.

 

[Marvo]

I think it's pretty good if it's one of the first you've done, it certainly looks competent and I've seen a lot worse looking installs in the real world. There is a little too much copper visible on some of the terminations but neatness comes with practice, practice and more practice.

Just out of interest are you using the earth wire to strip the cable and do they allow that?

 

[Spearmint]

Looks good bud maybe a bit heavy with the clips overall but your dressing/bends look tidy. In the fuseboard your neutral has a bit much copper exposed (this goes for all terminations - the rest are okay). Otherwise looking good.

Thanks. I'll use fewer clips next time, probably just me worrying that the cables might "float" about. As for the exposed copper ends I either end up with too much or too little I find, will get better with practice I'm sure. I hear what you're saying though, thanks for the input!

I think it's pretty good if it's one of the first you've done, it certainly looks competent and I've seen a lot worse looking installs in the real world. There is a little too much copper visible on some of the terminations but neatness comes with practice, practice and more practice.

Just out of interest are you using the earth wire to strip the cable and do they allow that?

Yeah it's only the latest in about five/six I think, not had anything to do with electrics before this. Again I hear what you're both saying about the exposed copper, shall be paying more attention in the future - never thought twice about it if I'm being honest. Yes I'm using the earth wire to strip through the outer PVC, no knifes allowed so this is the way we've been taught. There's no chance of slicing the inner PVC on the cores this way so I'm told.

 

[Baker1988]

Thanks. I'll use fewer clips next time, probably just me worrying that the cables might "float" about. As for the exposed copper ends I either end up with too much or too little I find, will get better with practice I'm sure. I hear what you're saying though, thanks for the input!


Yeah it's only the latest in about five/six I think, not had anything to do with electrics before this. Again I hear what you're both saying about the exposed copper, shall be paying more attention in the future - never thought twice about it if I'm being honest. Yes I'm using the earth wire to strip through the outer PVC, no knifes allowed so this is the way we've been taught. There's no chance of slicing the inner PVC on the cores this way so I'm told.

your not allowed to strip the twin and cpc by pulling the cpc as this can affect the cross-sectional area of the cpc we get told off at college if we strip it that way we have to use knifes or peal it like a banana haha, yeah i agree that a few of your geminations have too much copper showing, also the consumer unit could be tidier in my opinion

 

[Baker1988]

deleted!!


double post

 

[pennychew]

your not allowed to strip the twin and cpc by pulling the cpc as this can affect the cross-sectional area of the cpc we get told off at college if we strip it that way we have to use knifes or peal it like a banana haha, yeah i agree that a few of your geminations have too much copper showing, also the consumer unit could be tidier in my opinion

We were told the same as you about pulling the cpc but our tutor said he wasnt that bothered if we did it or not as in his words he 'did it for 25 years and never had a problem!' although he did say make sure you use your pliers and and not your snips!

 

[Baker1988]

We were told the same as you about pulling the cpc but our tutor said he wasnt that bothered if we did it or not as in his words he 'did it for 25 years and never had a problem!' although he did say make sure you use your pliers and and not your snips!

Yeah I agree with ya people have done it for years but I was just answering marvo's post above I honestly don't see a problem with it but at college they won't let us do it that way

 

[pennychew]

Yeah its good to see whats being taught differently at the different colleges around the country, our tutor doesnt like us to use a knife to strip flex and gets us to use one of these instead...

 

[Spearmint]

your not allowed to strip the twin and cpc by pulling the cpc as this can affect the cross-sectional area of the cpc we get told off at college if we strip it that way we have to use knifes or peal it like a banana haha, yeah i agree that a few of your geminations have too much copper showing, also the consumer unit could be tidier in my opinion

Interesting. The other reason we're not allowed to use knifes is due to H&S concerns. I could understand where your tutors are coming from if the CPC were stranded but solid cores don't have strands to lose, they only snap if moved about too much. Weird.

Any experienced members know of any regulations or guidelines for stripping outer PVC with the CPC?

 

[Paul.M]

The regs dont tell us how to install any electrical installation, just what we need to achieve the correct end result. You wont find a reg that states you cant "cheese wire" the PVC but there are regs stating not to put extreme pressure and stress upon the conductors. Same as the radius of cable bends etc.


As for the pics? Pic one, cable clip just about on the bend of the cable (top left light fitting). Clips are not allowed on any part of the bend. Slap on the wrist with tongue in cheek for that one lol.

These are very, very very small observations but you need to know them for the exams. Now you have had feedback, you now know for next time. Each one is worth missus 1 point and we dont want to loose marks because of a clip and a termination do we?

All in all very good, keep it up.

 

[MDJ]

I've been on a course (City & Guilds 2365 Level 2+3) for two months now, throughly enjoying it so far. Just doing two evenings a week whilst working full time during the day. I thought it'd be a good idea to keep a little running diary of my test rigs from the practical evenings, not just for me to look back on but to share with others undertaking similar courses.

So here's the completed rig from this evening, one way lighting via a junction box. I've also carried out safe isolation, tested R2 (0.02), tested R1+R2 (0.26), carried out the insulation resistance of which all came back at >1000. The only thing we couldn't carry out was the live test as another student from the full time course managed to blow the FCU supplying our test area, the switch on the FCU actually doesn't operate now apparently - his junction box went with a bang so I heard from the tutor.

Anyway... looking for criticism ideally so I can make improvements on the next rig, or a pat on the back if all is well!

View attachment 21848View attachment 21849View attachment 21847

Looks okay, however in real life the the clipping in the first picture is wrong, you would use double clips and the bottom 2 items would be clipped up against the 2 cables above then straight down, I appreciate it is what you are taught in College. pic 2 is plain silly as I would never use a JB for that amount of cables, it would be a small adaptable box with Wagos inside, again I appreciate it is what you are taught at college. Picture 3 looks fine generally, the earth and phase cores needs sorting out though, a bit tatty and you have not bent over the conductors, there is too much copper showing also in general, well you did ask and we are here to try to help you fellas.