Hello,
Hoping to get some advice on R1 + R2 radial testing and best practise.
When doing R1 R2 instead of taking cables from mcbs/rcbos and the earths out the terminal or placing any temporary links in the board.
Iv seen the R1 R2 link online that comes with a croc clip one end and a PZ2 the other end, so instead of taking the board apart using these seem a good option.
How does this work with parallel paths?
Are these a good option instead of disconnecting cables from the board?
I know the link kits you are describing, the PZ2 end is magnetic so it sticks to ferrous terminal screws.
I haven't used them myself, have heard mixed reviews, some are of poor quality by the sounds of it.
So if the purpose of the links is to avoid dismantling entirely, you will not elimate any parallel paths.
Attempting to remove parallel paths will always involve dismantling and attempting to isolate those paths where you consider relevant.
The parallel paths will depend on the type of installation and wiring system of course, and may include:
Metallic conduit or trunking systems
Cable armourings in SWA (depending on whether you intentionally want to include or exclude the armour as the protective conductor for design/verification calculation purposes)
Metal clad accesories serving different circuits which are joined with couplers etc.
Metal back boxes with multiple circuits present - e.g. light switch positions serving multiple circuits
Metallic pipework connected to items of fixed equipment such as water pipes, gas pipes
Main and supplementary protective bonding conductors
Structural steel to which containment or equipment is mounted
Any unseen/unknown fortuitous paths to earth
For this reason, if I have the time, and it is safe to do so (due to working light, accessibility etc.) I will remove both the line and cpc and join them together. Earth connections to boilers, water heaters etc. on the circuit under test can be temporarily disconnected, as can main or supplementary bonding if the installation is switched off and isolated.
