Testing before cu change

[elementps]

Hi Guys, Just wanted to get some views and different opinions on what tests you complete at pricing/enquiry stage for a cu change?Complete all tests beforehand? Complete limited tests, ze, PFC, ir?Would be interesting to see how everybody operates?Particulary IR tests, just want to give clients an accuracy quote upfront without having to charge more when changing the board and coming into faults.Many Thanks

 

[Guest 004]

You should do a full PIR before you do the change, otherwise you will be liable for any faults, that will show up on the CU

 

[telectrix]

i usually do a Ze, a couple of random Zs. and IR all circuits with neutrals connected. if the reading is poor, i then investigate the IR on each circuit. also i check for borrowed neutral, esp on landing light/s.

 

[i=p/u]

what if you done all this and they said no your ok now, too expensive

 

[BertUK]

i would do the cu change with a set price then tell them a full pir follows and if it fails then that is extra to put right.to be fiar if theres things wrong with circuits or equipment what you havent touched then that is down to them.

 

[nikmet]

You should do a full PIR before you do the change, otherwise you will be liable for any faults, that will show up on the CU

Not nessecarily, if you put a written disclaimer of any existing faults found will be discussed and repaired at additional cost, stated clearly on the original qoute paperwork how can you be liable?

 

[sparkinlee]

I usually say that the CU change will start with a full test of all the existing circuits (that testing being included in the quoted price) and any significant faults that show up will have to be discussed, together with likely costs, before proceeding. I'd usually aim to find and discuss any such faults early enough to be able to reinstate on the old board and leave the installation as I found it if the client backs out.

 

[nikmet]

I usually say that the CU change will start with a full test of all the existing circuits (that testing being included in the quoted price) and any significant faults that show up will have to be discussed, together with likely costs, before proceeding. I'd usually aim to find and discuss any such faults early enough to be able to reinstate on the old board and leave the installation as I found it if the client backs out.

Thats all well and good, but who,s going to cover your time and effort financially when the job doesnt go ahead? How much time does your pre-checking take up? Personally I find a lot of customers would say thanks, but as for paying to have the installation left as you found it??

 

[nickblake]

i usually do a Ze, a couple of random Zs. and IR all circuits with neutrals connected. if the reading is poor, i then investigate the IR on each circuit. also i check for borrowed neutral, esp on landing light/s.

i agree with Tel here exactly whet i do plus check all the bonding is in place too

 

[sparkinlee]

Thats all well and good, but who,s going to cover your time and effort financially when the job doesnt go ahead? How much time does your pre-checking take up? Personally I find a lot of customers would say thanks, but as for paying to have the installation left as you found it??

I guess you're taking a risk whatever way you do it... if you do a bit of testing before quoting the job there's a risk that no one will pay for that. I'd rather do the testing (which is going to be required for the installation certificate anyway) after the client has agreed to go ahead with the main job on the assumption that either no major faults will be found or that they will agree to pay what's required to fix them.

If there are major problems and the client will not pay more I'd rather walk away leaving the old installation as I found it (having told the client about its condition) even if out of pocket.

 

[ian]

This is a difficult one, if you do to much testing you arein danger of wasting your time, but I follow the best practice guide andexplain to customers what I am doing.
My first approach is to try and get the customer to have aPIR done, they genrally don’t want one because of the extra cost, so I thenexplain the consequences of not doing one but insist on doing the doing thefollowing. Not many refuse this testing. It does not take long.

• making enquires with the user as to whether there are anyknown defects, faults or damage,

• an internal visual inspection of the existing consumerunit to determine, amongst other things, the type and condition of the wiringsystem used for the installation,

• an external visual inspection of other readily accessibleparts of the installation,

• a measurement of the external earth fault loop impedance,Ze,

• a test of circuit protective conductor continuity at theend of each final circuit, and

• an insulation resistance measurement of the wholeinstallation at the consumer unit, between the live conductors connectedtogether and the protective conductors.

Most people tend to get at least 2 quotes for doing thissort of work, and I always make the point of asking if the “other electrician”did any testing and from my experience most don’t. So when I bring out the bestpractice guide and show them what it says I get some brownie points, and moreoften than not I get the work, without being the cheapest.

I also always give a contract stating that remedialworks will be at the customers cost.

 

[i=p/u]

any of you feel like pointing me in the direction of contact templateor electrical installations or do i have to learn from my mistakes.. just an idea of how 1 goes.... cheers big ears

 

[Mfctitch]

Evening Just reading your reply with interest.
Could your explain further how you do "an insulation resistance measurement of the whole installation at the consumer unit, between the live conductors connected together and the protective conductors."
Sorry if this sounds like a silly question but I'm in the same boat and still very new to testing.
Thanks in advance

 

[tony mc]

You would isolate the main switch.

Link the neutral and line busbar with a suitable connector and then IR test between that and earth.

I use small lenth of cable which has a croc clip on each end and just attach it.

Hope this helps.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Unless it's an installation that I have previous knowledge of, I tell the customer that a full PIR is required, to assess the installation before any work is conducted.