Pat Testing Christmas Features HELP

[TERRYJ10]

Hi,
I am currently testing a load of Christmas that are made of LED / NON LED rope light that is mounted onto metal frames. When pat testing these should you do the earth resistance upto 0.5ohm as for the BS4533 ropelight or keep the reading to 0.1+R for the exposed metal frame,
Any help would be greateful
Thanks
Terry

 

[ringer]

Am not familiar with metal-framed LED Christmas lights. Are you sure these are not Class II? Can you put a link to a pic?

 

[TERRYJ10]

All of the string / roplight that we use are of class 2 construction. What we do is that we manufacter festive decorations fromn design to end finished product.

We manufacter a aluminium frame to desired shape and attach the ropelight onto the frame. The frame then has a electrical terminal box that is fed from a 240volt supply including an earth. The earth is bolted through the aluminium frame and the live / neutral is connected to the out going class 2 equipment and more often and not there is a socket suppiled to feed other lighting.

Its been a gray area if these need pat testing as many times there are out of reach but we decided with them having a supply cord and being repaired on low level that they all would be pat tested. I have been testing the earth bond upto 0.1+ R by just clamping the flying lead at various pionts on the framework. After reading the code of practice and being asked a question sholud i be allowing a earth bond reading of 0.5 as the ropes comply to BS 4533 Luminaries. To be honest im not sure if ropelight is to BS4533 or if that is just for more conventional lighting products.

The metal frames are fastened both to catinary wires and lighting columns.

If you have thoughts and guidance i would be grateful

Terry

 

[ringer]

Hmm. You may have to put this through type testing as it is a manufactured product. Those tests are much more thorough and stringent than PAT. Someone on the design team (Director or Manager) ought to know this.

This is only my opinion and not based on thorough knowledge of all the regulations etc. I suggest you seek expert advice- though where from I am not sure. You could try phoning the IET and asking them.

 

[Michelle2909]

Hi
my thoughts are to PAT test it as class I as although you have used a class II product as a component part you have actually created a class I product by introducing a protective earthed metal frame, also were you say you have sockets to feed further circuits I would test the sockets as extension lead.

is this product rcd protected ?

 

[TERRYJ10]

Hi,
Thanks for all the replies. The frames are plugged directly into the socket outlets that are form part of the fixed lighting column some are rcd protected but not all.
I do test them all as class 1 items and at the moment i test them to 0.1+R and many of them pass at this but its only after seeing the 0.5 allowance for luminaires that i got concerned on which reading it needed to be
Thanks again

 

[Michelle2909]

Hi,
Thanks for all the replies. The frames are plugged directly into the socket outlets that are form part of the fixed lighting column some are rcd protected but not all.
I do test them all as class 1 items and at the moment i test them to 0.1+R and many of them pass at this but its only after seeing the 0.5 allowance for luminaires that i got concerned on which reading it needed to be
Thanks again

Just a thought but would it not be appropriate to suggest to your client the use of plug in type RCD's in place of plug when used on non rcd protected supply

 

[TERRYJ10]

Hi Michelle,
Thanks for your reply. Most of our clients are other local authorities and they all ready have there infrastructure built into the lighting columns. All i want to is to ensure that im doing everything correctly from our side before sending the features out. I have emailed the IET so i will let you know what there say.
Thanks

btw - love your cat photo