Testing an electrical installation
The test instruments and test leads used by the electrician for testing an electrical installation must meet all the requirements of the relevant regulations. The HSE has published Guidance Notes GS 38 (download below) for test equipment used by electricians.
4 test instruments most frequently used by electriciansThe IEE Regulations (BS 7671) also specify the test voltage or current required to carry out particular tests satisfactorily.
All test equipment must be chosen to comply with the relevant parts of BS EN 61557. All testing must, therefore, be carried out using an ‘approved’ test instrument if the test results are to be valid.
The test instrument must also carry a calibration certificate, otherwise the recorded results may be void. Calibration certificates usually last for a year.
Test instruments must, therefore, be tested and recalibrated each year by an approved supplier. This will maintain the accuracy of the instrument to an acceptable level, usually within 2% of the true value.
Modern digital test instruments are reasonably robust, but to maintain them in good working order they must be treated with care. An approved test instrument costs equally as much as a good-quality camera. It should, therefore, receive the same care and consideration.
Let us now look at the requirements of four often used test meters //
1. Continuity tester
To measure accurately the resistance of the conductors in an electrical installation we must use an instrument which is capable of producing an open circuit voltage of between 4 and 24V AC or DC, and deliver a short-circuit current of not less than 200 mA (Regulation 612.2.1).
The functions of continuity testing and insulation resistance testing are usually combined in one test instrument.
2. Insulation resistance tester
The test instrument must be capable of detecting insulation leakage between live conductors and between live conductors and earth.
To do this and comply with Regulation 612.3 the test instrument must be capable of producing a test voltage of 250, 500 or 1000 V and deliver an output current of not less than 1 mA at its normal voltage.
3. Earth fault loop impedance tester
The test instrument must be capable of delivering fault currents as high as 25A for up to 40ms using the supply voltage. During the test, the instrument does an Ohm’s law calculation and displays the test result as a resistance reading.
4. RCD tester
Where circuits are protected by an RCD (residual current device) we must carry out a test to ensure that the device will operate very quickly under fault conditions and within the time limits set by the IEE Regulations. The instrument must, therefore, simulate a fault and measure the time taken for the RCD to operate.
The instrument is, therefore, calibrated to give a reading measured in milliseconds to an in-service accuracy of 10%.
Investment //
If you purchase good-quality ‘approved’ test instruments and leads from specialist manufacturers they will meet all the Regulations and Standards and therefore give valid test results.
However, to carry out all the tests required by the IEE Regulations will require a number of test instruments and this will represent a major capital investment in the region of USD 1000.
Instrument calibration
Historically, many electrical contractors have had test instruments calibrated on an annual basis. The instrument would be sent away to a calibration house and it would arrive back, some time later, with a certificate stating the date of calibration, the time period for which the certificate would be valid along with the findings of the assessment in the form of a table of results.
What can go wrong with test instruments?
Problems with test instruments are not always immediately obvious so it is important that any irregularities are discovered as early as possible.
Damage to the instrument
Consider the scenario // A test instrument was calibrated by a calibration house six months ago and is still within the stated 12-month calibration period. It appears to be working well but, unbeknownst to the contractor, five months ago it had a collision with a conduit bender in the back of the firm’s van and is now out of calibration.
Therefore, it is extremely important that the instrument is regularly assessed.
Prospective fault current test (VIDEO)
References //
- Advanced Electrical Installation Work by Trevor Linsley (Purchase paperback
) - Ongoing accuracy of test instruments by Mark Coles
)Copyright Notice
This technical article is protected by U.S. and international copyright laws. Reproduction and distribution of PDF version of this technical article to websites such as Linkedin, Scribd, Facebook and others without written permission of the sponsor is illegal and strictly prohibited.© EEP-Electrical Engineering Portal.
Related electrical guides & articles
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.
Profile: Edvard Csanyi
Hello,
I would like to check product availability and price quotation for the items below:
Megger MIT1025-US INSULATION TESTER WITH OUTPUT,20TERAOHMS RESISTANCE,10KV….Qty….5,Units
Let me have the cost per item numbers if in stock. Do advise the pricing and availability of the item including your Net30 Term account form to setup a net30 term account with your company.
We can forward our references data sheet and any other document you may need for the net30 order.
Awaiting your earliest response.
THANK YOU
Michael Lang
Purchasing Manager
Amsted Rail
311 S. Wacker Drive,
Suite 5300
Chicago, IL 60606.
Thank you for sharing the valuable content.
The electrical test and measurement range of products from Josts’ Electrical Division ensures performance and reliability in power generation, transmission and distribution equipments.
Thank you for sharing the valuable content.Jost’s Material Handling provides innovative solutions for internal material handling needs for its customers so that it improves the efficiencies of their processes.
👋
Dear Edward, Really nice presentation. & Good stuf with advance instruments.
General query not related to your site
1) Is there any criteria of qualified person for Electrical safety audit.
2) How can I get all IEC / BS related booklets
3) What Standards are being followed in UAE & related countries.
Good work 👍
This website was really helpful for my school work! I really appreciate the creation of this, plenty of great for my project, a Measurement Portfolio. I thank you ever so much.
ATTN: Whom it may concern
How are you!We Meigaolan Elec Instrument Corp., which is a dealer of used Test&Measurement equipment in China, which include oscilloscope, digital multimeter, spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, signal generator, wifi &bluetooth tester, covered the brand as KEYSIGHT, R&S, ANRITSU, TEK, FLUKE, LITEPOINT, etc.since 2003. We can sell, buy, rent and repair according to your needs.
Recently, we are looking for E5071b, MS2720T, E8247,,IQXEL, 5570A,Please provide you sales price or you have any equipment in need, please feel free contact us.
Meigaolan Elec Instrument Co Ltd
Sulliven Xie
Respected,
I am very much happy with the articles available on portal.
Sir, please provide the articles on “”CALIBRATION OF ALL INSTRUMENTS USED IN TESTING””, I am having interview in Quality assurance company QA/QC for the post of Foreman.
Please also give me the tips for interview as per the post.
Thanking you.
Good stuff Edvard !
PS: Check the “Get PDF” button
Does not work on your last publications
Thank you for writing this article. As I’m also an electrician, and actually have two sets of testing devices, and intentionally have them calibrated six months a part (call it OCD). Yet I still personally find it amusing, although it’s completely valid and understandable, that we need to calibrate our calibration machines. I wonder if those machines need calibration also…
In any case, thank you for bringing this issue up, and going into depth about testing. I wasn’t going to say anything about the lack of gloves, but I’m glad someone already did.
can i work as an electrician in America i have an Electrical engineering diploma India.
Merci beaucoup
NO existe un solo vídeo de instrumentos difundido por fabricantes de instrumentos de medición donde prevalezca la seguridad del técnico, como ejemplo revisen el sitio web de ¨Fluke¨, sus videos son exelentes pero la seguridad no es la premisa
Excelente articulo Edvar
I would have liked to use your article to demonstrate several important points in testing installations.
BUT
Every picture demonstrates bad practice.
No use of insulated gloves
No use of full face protection
No use of flame retardant clothing (Last picture dressed in polyester!!!!)
I know these shots would be fro manufactures literature further compounding the issue.
Other wise your site is one of the best on the web for its content.
Couldn’t agree more on you… safety isn’t demonstrated here on pics :) Maybe I focused too much on test devices themselves.
Good point Derek, thanks!