Domestics testing in an old house

[Bradley6969]

Domestic testing an old house quite large gone into the board and nothing labelled what the best way to identify the circuits, bell them out?

 

[Pete999]

Domestic testing an old house quite large gone into the board and nothing labelled what the best way to identify the circuits, bell them out?

Something like thesehttps://www.bing.com/search?q=fuse+finder+kit&pc=MOZI&form=MOZSBR

 

[Bradley6969]

Thanks think I've seen them before by never used

Something like thesehttps://www.bing.com/search?q=fuse+finder+kit&pc=MOZI&form=MOZSBR

 

[Pete999]

Thanks think I've seen them before by never used

Now's your chance

 

[Bradley6969]

Now's your chance

Yeah true I can find out the line conductors it's just the neutrals and earths as there all jumbled about so that's why I thought bell them out as there just shoved in any terminal

 

[Bradley6969]

Now's your chance

Yeah true I can find out the line conductors it's just the neutrals and earths as there all jumbled about so that's why I thought bell them out as there just shoved in any terminal

 

[Ian1981]

Domestic testing an old house quite large gone into the board and nothing labelled what the best way to identify the circuits, bell them out?

Turn off each circuit (if you can) turn one on at a time and check around house what's energised.

 

[Pete999]

That's Domestic testing for you Bradley, you win some you lose some, looks like you are just going to identify pairs logically.

 

[Bradley6969]

Turn off each circuit (if you can) turn one on at a time and check around house what's energised.

Yeah good idea that's what I've been doing but just time consuming that's all just wanted to see if there was any other ways but cheers

 

[Bradley6969]

That's Domestic testing for you Bradley, you win some you lose some, looks like you are just going to identify pairs logically.

Yeah true thanks for your help anyways

 

[Pete999]

Yeah good idea that's what I've been doing but just time consuming that's all just wanted to see if there was any other ways but cheers

I think as long as you keep calm, work logically and safely, it shouldn't be that gificult to pair the cables up, problem being you will have to work with the power isolated, which will be a bit of a bind for your client. H ave you any idea what type of cables you are dealing with, PVC/PVC, VIR or are they a miss match of sorts, if they are all different that could work in your favour for identification purposes. Let us know how you get on please.

 

[stummish]

I try to eliminate radials - lighting (check for borrowed neutrals) - rings in this order. I don't know if this is just common sense but getting rid of the radials makes finding the ring ends easier, for me anyway. Good luck and have fun. As @Pete999 says, keep calm and use cold hard logic.

 

[Rpa07]

And try a do a nice drawing so it's down on paper - then take a photo of the paper so it's in the cloud. I'll agree it is time consuming.

 

[stummish]

@Rpa07 does having my head in the cloud count?

 

[Rpa07]

Always! @stummish - just make sure no one comes along and nicks your tools whilst it's in there!

 

[westward10]

Do the obvious turn on all lights and do them first. Then get rid of the single point radials like cooker, immersion, shower etc. Then ring finals and see what is left. Check garden areas as well.

 

[ruston]

Check the Polarity first.

 

[Specialist]

You could just isolate the circuits & use a cheap Tone / Trace set.
Surprising how handy they are.

 

[telectrix]

You could just isolate the circuits & use a cheap Tone / Trace set.
Surprising how handy they are.

that's what i use.

 

[Specialist]

I use a cheap one from the bay for tracing power cables & keep the good one for tracing Alarm, Audio & CCTV cables etc. Saves a lot of head scratching.

 

[ruston]

I have a Martindale one too.

 

[Specialist]

Never tried the Martindale one, the cheap one is Chinese (I think) & the good one is an American test-um.
The test- um is a nice high powered unit for long distance tracing.

 

[Octopus]

I was changing this yesterday (photo taken after I had disconnected 1 circuit:



I was unable to determine the circuits until I'd take a lot of it apart.... the 15A circuit covered all but 2 sockets in the house, the 3rd 5A fuse (fitted with 15A fusewire) covered the "missing" 2......

a right dogs dinner

Sorting these out takes time, patience and customers money to do properly

 

[Specialist]

Nice, not seen one of those in years.

 

[Risteard]

I'm confused - why try to identify the neutrals etc. - if it's a Periodic Inspection then just code it as a defect and price for sorting it out later if they want.

 

[Les Macaulay]

And try a do a nice drawing so it's down on paper - then take a photo of the paper so it's in the cloud. I'll agree it is time consuming.

Remember to price jobs for this when quoting new jobs. I'm anxious to find out how to easily and neatly label the conductors.

 

[Pete999]

Domestic testing an old house quite large gone into the board and nothing labelled what the best way to identify the circuits, bell them out?

Use a fuse finder Mate.

 

[Rpa07]

Turn off each circuit (if you can) turn one on at a time and check around house what's energised.

Do the obvious turn on all lights and do them first. Then get rid of the single point radials like cooker, immersion, shower etc. Then ring finals and see what is left. Check garden areas as well.

And try a do a nice drawing so it's down on paper - then take a photo of the paper so it's in the cloud. I'll agree it is time consuming.

Plan of the house accessories on the circuits was what I was referring to @Les Macaulay

Remember to price jobs for this when quoting new jobs. I'm anxious to find out how to easily and neatly label the conductors.