r2?

[markysparky]

Hi We had our niceic inspection last week and he said r1 and r2 for a periodic is not always needed wander lead r2 is acceptable.

This would obviously save time inspecting domestics by cutting down the time unscrewing all sw etc, just put the wanderlead into the screw.

How do you test on a day to day basis? what tests?Do you have any short cuts?

At college we were taught to IR the whole property at the board but this does have drawbacks with false readings and possible damage to sensitive equip. Would you take out all lightbulbs etc, turn off fcu or link out load?

Just some interesting points that people at college seem to have differnt answers for. I would like to hear what you expereinced guys think on efficent but obviously safe testing.Applaud Smiley

 

[Andy™]

if its a PIR, then you should not IR L-N unless you can guarantee youve disconnected everything and found every hidden load. you should short L-N and test to earth

for R1R2, depends. R1R2 can be easier since you dont have to carry a lead around, but if youve already got it out, then quickly running round doing R2 only could be quicker. but another point to remember is your earth path includes the section of live you havent tested, so if there is a high reading on that, your Zs may be too high, even though R2 complies and Ze does

 

[markysparky]

thamks for your answers, would you link out p n and test to earth on all circuits at 500v and just record results? obviously this would speed up the testing, and record in observations. Would you check any p-n readings?

 

[Andy™]

short l-n and test to earth. record this. never bother with l to n if there is any chance of something still being connected

 

[phil whitehouse]

Only problem testing IR by doing LN to earth at board with all the circuits together is that often you will miss any "borowed" neutrals, more common than you think,often stair and landing lights are fed with the phase from the downstairs circuitand the neutral from the upstairs, or even on some comercial sites all the neutrals are joined together in a connector block in the multigang gridswitch so even if the circuits show clear to earth when all tested together its still not wired correctly.