Hey all,
I'm just starting to dabble in my own testing just to gain experience, while awaiting a course start.
Some questions I'm not sure about are below and I'm hoping someone with loads more experience could guide me somewhat in my learning please ?
Of course I get all the usual testing like r1 rn r2 and R1+R2 etc. but what happens when as I've seen many times before on site.
1. Ring main has been spurred to supply a sfcu or dp switch and onwards to feed then an exterior floodlight or under floor heat mat for instance ? i.e. ( do you need to switch off the sfcu etc and test to the socket before the spur ? which neglects to test the full extension on the cct or should you open up accessory / sfcu & test at terminals with say the cable feeding the flood light or whatever the load is disconnected ? I'm thinking that IR test would maybe damage light internals or heat mat etc.. ? and also that the cable out to load from fcu may be smaller e.g. 1.5mm as opposed to 2.5mm feed to it from the ring, which would play havoc with the resistance readings taken.
2. EFLI test with socket adapter in socket on ring, but if as above has been spurred off to feed something else through an fcu etc.. do I need to open up the plate and efli test from the terminals on the fcu to cover all the circuit ? and it may change the results somewhat surely ?
3. If conducting an IR test on an existing install and therefore being able to test with L&N connected together to cpc and not separately as to avoid any damage to sensitive electronics for instance, should all lamps still be removed on circuit involved to avoid damage & or bad results ?
4. As above with an mcb supplying an immersion / water heater cylinder wired through a time clock ( time switch ) of mech or electronic nature would the IR test say damage the time clock ? and therefore need it disconnected first ?
5. Heat mat testing other than recommended usual resistance testing before, during, after install to check not been damaged, would an IR test be good practice ? or could it damage the heat cabling in mat ? I'm thinking it would prob be o.k.
6. If say just fitting new install to one area e.g. a kitchen is it fine just to test the new works and certificate that ? plus the ze, PFC, PSSC for the whole board at incoming main switch too ?
7. Finally any other advice from you very experienced testers that any tests would cause problems such as IR tests on other sensitive equipment to avoid / disconnect ?
Apologies for the long one, but at college they only teach you the bays with very standard basic circuits not all the variations and added spurs to feed new items you see after years of people adapting their homes !!
Thanks for any help at all.
I'm just starting to dabble in my own testing just to gain experience, while awaiting a course start.
Some questions I'm not sure about are below and I'm hoping someone with loads more experience could guide me somewhat in my learning please ?
Of course I get all the usual testing like r1 rn r2 and R1+R2 etc. but what happens when as I've seen many times before on site.
1. Ring main has been spurred to supply a sfcu or dp switch and onwards to feed then an exterior floodlight or under floor heat mat for instance ? i.e. ( do you need to switch off the sfcu etc and test to the socket before the spur ? which neglects to test the full extension on the cct or should you open up accessory / sfcu & test at terminals with say the cable feeding the flood light or whatever the load is disconnected ? I'm thinking that IR test would maybe damage light internals or heat mat etc.. ? and also that the cable out to load from fcu may be smaller e.g. 1.5mm as opposed to 2.5mm feed to it from the ring, which would play havoc with the resistance readings taken.
2. EFLI test with socket adapter in socket on ring, but if as above has been spurred off to feed something else through an fcu etc.. do I need to open up the plate and efli test from the terminals on the fcu to cover all the circuit ? and it may change the results somewhat surely ?
3. If conducting an IR test on an existing install and therefore being able to test with L&N connected together to cpc and not separately as to avoid any damage to sensitive electronics for instance, should all lamps still be removed on circuit involved to avoid damage & or bad results ?
4. As above with an mcb supplying an immersion / water heater cylinder wired through a time clock ( time switch ) of mech or electronic nature would the IR test say damage the time clock ? and therefore need it disconnected first ?
5. Heat mat testing other than recommended usual resistance testing before, during, after install to check not been damaged, would an IR test be good practice ? or could it damage the heat cabling in mat ? I'm thinking it would prob be o.k.
6. If say just fitting new install to one area e.g. a kitchen is it fine just to test the new works and certificate that ? plus the ze, PFC, PSSC for the whole board at incoming main switch too ?
7. Finally any other advice from you very experienced testers that any tests would cause problems such as IR tests on other sensitive equipment to avoid / disconnect ?
Apologies for the long one, but at college they only teach you the bays with very standard basic circuits not all the variations and added spurs to feed new items you see after years of people adapting their homes !!
Thanks for any help at all.
