Testing of electrical installations
This is the simple list of basic terms you can often hear when testing and measurements of electrical installation (in general) is being performed. While experienced electrical engineers will find this list short, I hope beginners will catch the essence and continue exploring this field of electrical engineering.
13 Basic expressions often used in electrical testing (photo credit: novuscompliance.co.uk)Feel free to suggest me an expression (along with description) you think it should be listed, it will be my pleasure to add it to the list and to move away from number 13 :)
Ok, so here is the list:
- Active accessible conductive part
- Passive accessible conductive part
- Electric shock
- Earthing electrode
- Nominal voltage
- Fault voltage
- Contact voltage
- Limit Contact voltage
- Nominal load current
- Nominal installation current
- Fault current
- Leakage current
- Short-circuit current
- Electrical Insulation (UPDATE!)
- Harmonics levels (UPDATE!)
1. Active accessible conductive part
Active accessible conductive part is the conductive part of an electrical installation or appliance such as the housing, part of a housing etc. which can be touched by a human body. Such an accessible part is free of mains voltage except under fault conditions.
2. Passive accessible conductive part
Passive accessible conductive part is an accessible conductive part, which is not a part of an electrical installation or appliance, like:
- Heating system pipes,
- Water pipes,
- Metal parts of air condition system,
- Metal parts of building framework
- etc.
3. Electric shock
Electric shock is the pathophysic effect of an electric current flowing through a human or animal body. Very dangerous, have eyes on your back while testing.
It’s very important to know what to do if electric shock occurs.
4. Earthing electrode
Earthing electrode is a conductive part, or a group of conductive parts, which are placed into earth and thus assure a good and permanent contact with ground.
5. Nominal voltage
Nominal voltage (Un) is the voltage which electrical installations or components of electrical installations, such as appliances, loads etc. are rated at. Some installation characteristics also refer to nominal voltage (e.g. power).
6. Fault voltage
Fault voltage (Uf) is the voltage that appears between the active accessible conductive parts and the passive ones or ideal ground in the case of a fault on appliances connected to the mains installation (connected appliance).
The figure below represents the Fault voltage (Uf) and division of the voltage into the Contact voltage (Uc) and voltage drop on floor/shoes resistance (Us).
Where:
- ZB – Impedance of human body
- RS – Floor and shoes resistance
- RE – Earth Resistance of active accessible conductive parts
- If – Fault current
- Uc – Contact voltage
- Us – Voltage drop on floor/shoes resistance
- Uf – Fault voltage
(floor material is placed to ideal ground)
7. Contact voltage
Contact voltage (Uc) is the voltage to which a human body is exposed when touching an active accessible conductive part. The body is standing on the floor or is in contact with passive accessible conductive part.
Measuring: Contact voltage is measured between the earthing electrode and two measurement electrodes connected together and placed 1m away from tested earthing electrode.
Where:
- Uo – Ground potential
- Uc – Contact voltage
- Ust – Step voltage
- RE – Earth resistance
8. Limit Contact voltage
Limit Contact voltage (UL) is the maximum Contact voltage which may be continuously present under certain external conditions e.g. presence of water.
9. Nominal load current
Nominal load current (In) is the current that flows through the load under normal operating conditions and at nominal mains voltage.
10. Nominal installation current
Nominal installation current (In) is the current that the installation draws under normal operating conditions.
11. Fault current
Fault current (If) is the current that flows to active accessible conductive parts and then to ground in case of a fault on a mains appliance.
12. Leakage current
Leakage current (IL) is the current that usually flows through isolation materials or capacitive elements to ground in normal conditions.
13. Short-circuit current
Short-circuit current (Isc) is the current that flows in a short circuit between two points of different potential.
14. Electrical Insulation
A non-conducting material that provides electric isolation between two or many electrically live parts at different voltages or at same voltages. It should have a high electrical high resistivity and high dielectric strength commensurate with requirement form Voltage to voltage.
The electrical insulating materials are in solid (rigid & flexible), liquid and gaseous forms.
Updated by Mr. K.K. Murty, Jabalpur, India.
15. Harmonics Levels
Devices causing harmonics are present in all industrial, commercial and residential installations. Harmonics are caused by non-linear loads. A load is said to be non-linear when the current it draws does not have the same wave form as the supply voltage.
Updated by Mr. Noel Phillips, Mumbai.
Reference // Guide To Measurements On Electrical Installations in Theory and Practice (Download guide)
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Edvard Csanyi
Hi, I'm an electrical engineer, programmer and founder of EEP - Electrical Engineering Portal. I worked twelve years at Schneider Electric in the position of technical support for low- and medium-voltage projects and the design of busbar trunking systems.I'm highly specialized in the design of LV/MV switchgear and low-voltage, high-power busbar trunking (<6300A) in substations, commercial buildings and industry facilities. I'm also a professional in AutoCAD programming.
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very educative and practicable
Good thesis,breafing almost all items,thoroughly prepared,deserves all admiration.I have only a very small remark,according to my experience of about 40 years,mostly through world known contracting companies;in short it’s about sometimes,you find a cable buried in the ground ,you are going to construct your project on ,please treat this cable as a live cable,whatever it is,single or multicore.
Good afternoon
Please Can you explain about loop impedance test and RCD test for Electrical installation in any apartments
Best regards
How to work a surge arrestor, on voltage dip or current
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Hello
I really like your Facebook feed, great stuff.
On the list of electrical terms at the top, I believe Earth Fault Loop Impedence (FLI) should be there.
First picture “Evrotehna” panel ?
How about “Finger Safe” meaning to suitably guard energized parts from accidental contact.
Dear Eng.Mr.Edward, GREETINGS.
All your articles are very informative and useful for the personalities in field of elec.Engg.
Pl keep it up n With respectful Regards,
sontakke.
Hi there,
I hope you’re doing great. I love all your articles since I work in the electrical wholesale business and as an Electrical Engineer I can be very updated and refreshed about the concepts that I don’t use everyday and I just learnt while I was studying. I would like to ask for your permission to use some of the information that you show in this portal and translate it to spanish and use it for our facebook page always refering hat the information is provided by your EEPortal. I will look forward to your answer!
Regards,
Juan Pablo Delgado
Looking to keep up with what’s new in Electrical Engineering. Currently working as a Protection and Control Engineer.