AM2 assessment

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AM2 assessment

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Mark.W

Mark.W

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Hi peeps,

I recently sat my AM2 and have been told that I did not meet the required standard on 2 sections.

Can someone please explain how to safely isolate the DOL starter. What I did was isolate and lock off the MCb, selected the voltage indicator checked it was working on a proving unit. I then tested L1-L2, L1-L3, L2-L3, L1-E, L2-E and L3-E. There was no N at the motor! I then rechecked the voltage indicator on the proving unit.

I also failed on the installation of lighting circuit, but I'm sure it was fine, it tested out fine and was fully operational at all 3 switches. I took my supply to the light fitting then the PL and SL to the first switch which was connected to the strappers. I linked the commons in the intermediate switch. Not sure what I could have got wrong!

The last thing I failed on was the installation of the swa to the 3ph socket? I terminated the gland either end ran a fly lead from the gland in the DB to MET, and a fly lead to the 3ph socket from the isolator via the earth screw on the isolator cover, all tests were good.

Please can someone she some light on what I could have done wrong?


Many thanks
 
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Mark.W said:
----------- is a website that gives guidance on assessments etc. In particular the AM2.


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If you have not installed in accordance with BS7671 I would not think that having taken advice from a third party website not affiliated with the IET or any body associated with the AM2 would be grounds for an appeal.
 
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Mark.W said:
Makes sense, but if that is all I got wrong and now have to pay £300 for a resit then it seems a bit harsh!


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I got told by my assessors that they didn't know how the faults were weighted in terms of points. They just sent off their judgements and it was marked by others. They said they regularly saw surprise fails though.
 
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Heartbreaking really! 8 hours in a booth and having failed on not sleeving strappers! Now I have to do it all over again and pay £300! Gutted to say the least! Surely that can't warrant a fail.


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Mark.W said:
Heartbreaking really! 8 hours in a booth and having failed on not sleeving strappers! Now I have to do it all over again and pay £300! Gutted to say the least! Surely that can't warrant a fail.


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I would have thought not. Not as a lone issue. I feel there must have been other things too. No offence intended though.
 
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yeah table 51 seems pretty clear on it to be honest (and is always gonna supercede an unaffiliated website.. )
you didn't mention asking permission to isolate the DOL circuit? maybe it was assumed as part of the isolation and locking off so forgive me asking, but i've heard it's an easy place to instantly fail the 2394 so thought i'd check :)
 
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The AM2 is in effect one of your final exams before you enter the world as a fully qualified electrician, so it may seem quite harsh, but if you don't know the regulations and how to do the job correctly then you should quite rightly fail it.

As has been suggested earlier, 'spakyfacts' is not the regulations or any sort of recognised best practice guide.

Should the strappers be sleeved? Well it all depends on what colour they are to start with, it's a single phase lighting circuit so the only colours you can identify live conductors with are brown for line and blue for neutral, anything else does not comply with the regulations.

Safe isolation, it sounds like you have isolated the wrong thing, or possibly tested in the wrong place for the means of isolation you have used. If you are asked to isolate a specific piece of equipment then isolate it at its nearest lockable isolator.
Did you ask permission to isolate, fill out any permits required, fit a suitable label and keep the key secure? All things which are easy to overlook.

You haven't mentioned a connection from the gland at the isolator to the earth terminal of the isolator, did you fit this?


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Thanks Davesparks.

I only used ----------- as a guide. I can now see that the strappers need sleeving, not convinced it warrants a fail though.

Safe isolation - I was told we were to replace the motor as it was faulty. I asked for permission to shut down, I isolated the circuit at the Mcb, locked it off and put the key in my pocket. There was a warning label on the padlock. I then took the voltage indicator and tested it on the proving unit. I then tested L1-L2, L1-L3, L2-L3, L1-E, L2-E and L3-E at the motor terminals. There was no N. I then rechecked the proving unit. ( should I have rather isolated at the DOL instead? )

I took a fly lead from the gland to the earth terminal in the isolator and then from there to the socket.

Cheers for your help


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Did you not need to test the voltage at the DOL starter?.

By only testing at the motor you haven't proved that the motor may not start up as it is controlled by the starter. The contactor was open so the motor would be dead, but you need to prove the starter isn't going to operate.

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Mark.W said:
Hi peeps,

I recently sat my AM2 and have been told that I did not meet the required standard on 2 sections.

Can someone please explain how to safely isolate the DOL starter. What I did was isolate and lock off the MCb, selected the voltage indicator checked it was working on a proving unit. I then tested L1-L2, L1-L3, L2-L3, L1-E, L2-E and L3-E. There was no N at the motor! I then rechecked the voltage indicator on the proving unit.

I also failed on the installation of lighting circuit, but I'm sure it was fine, it tested out fine and was fully operational at all 3 switches. I took my supply to the light fitting then the PL and SL to the first switch which was connected to the strappers. I linked the commons in the intermediate switch. Not sure what I could have got wrong!

The last thing I failed on was the installation of the swa to the 3ph socket? I terminated the gland either end ran a fly lead from the gland in the DB to MET, and a fly lead to the 3ph socket from the isolator via the earth screw on the isolator cover, all tests were good.

Please can someone she some light on what I could have done wrong?


Many thanks
Click to expand...

mediate
May be Me or You but you say you linked the commons at the intermediate, not sure what you mean?
 
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Sat my AM2 a month or so ago at SETA (Southampton), with regards to your lighting circuit its shown on the spec I had that you require a neutral at every location.

If you're saying you didn't sleeve the common at the intermediate this is probably the reason for failing.
 
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I was asked to perform safe isolation on the lighting circuit rather than motor, on the "pre AM2" course I went on they were very specific as to where to measure from - I had to measure at the ceiling rose itself rather than the DB!
 
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One of my lads failed his AM2 first time because he didn't follow the lighting drawing.
Which wanted the feed ran all the way round to switch 3, he just wired it shortest route.....
If you took the feed to the light and the course is still the same I would say that was the main issue.


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I agree with others above, I've been informed by my last apprentice that sat the AM2 a couple of weeks ago, spec says neutral required at all switches. Also I assume you had to wire it in T&E/3c&E, therefore sleeving will be required.
 
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Yes we do a refresh course ourselves. Unfortunately we didn't get a heads up about the change. Luckily the two guys who went through without being aware of this read the spec carefully and passed. I can imagine it would be easy to miss something like that under exam conditions. I do always stress reading the spec carefully in case of changes. I'll be informing all my other apprentices.

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I am to do my AM2 in a couple of months. Does anybody have any good information that can help me prepare for this?

My whole apprenticeship has been spent in new house builds, I have not done any motors, single cores, intermediate switching, swa of such.

My college assessor believes the refresher course before will somehow have me prepared, I feel scepticle about the whole idea that 1 day course can give me all the stuff ill need to pass.

Any information would be greatful.
 
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