Building a test rig

[AdamG]

Hi,
I've read a fair few posts that have suggested to newbies that building their own test rig is a good way to learn and start running through testing scenarios.
I have a fair amount of electrical gubbins in my shed (I'm a real magpie) including various patress boxes, sockets, switches, fused spurs, light fittings etc, also a small consumer unit (the type you might fit in a garage)
Does anyone have any susggestions for the type of circuits I should build? Wiring diagrams and photos would be good too.

Many Thanks,
Adam.

 

[joethepudding]

I would start with basic ring finals in yt2 and surface boxs, practice the test procedures till it becomes second nature.

also do some radials ..maybe practice terminating 10mm cable into cooker outlets ,this will get your dexteraty up.

practice with 2 ways and intermediate switches too. and once your good at that i would try some 2 plate wiring..

 

[acat]

For a basic test rig I would include

1 ring main with a spur on it
1 cooker circuit
3 lighting circuits
the first 1 switch 2 lights
the second 2 lights 2 switchs
the third 2 lights with three switchs the middle one being an intermediate switch

Make sure that at least your cooker point has a neon in it as that will throw your readings out and you will need to learn how to deal with that.

Rather than give you diagrams try and do it yourself not being unhelpful but your future customers are not going to give you a diagram either. If you cant sort it then PM me with your email address and I will
help get you on the right path


Good luck


Chris

 

[AdamG]

Cheers Chris,
I'll drop you a pm when I'm home later (on my phone at the mo).
Are cable lengths an issue, or can it all me done with a few foot of cable on the wall of the shed?

Cheers, Adam.

 

[acat]

No mate I would suggest that you use a sheet of chipboard so that its portable that way you wont wind the Mrs up and live long enough to use it


Chris

 

[AdamG]

Made a start tonight, Will try to have more of a tinker over he weekend.
I may need a bigger bit of wood to put everything on but it was the only size I had to hand.

 

[sparky1502]

i'm just coming to the end of my 2nd year at college and thats all they have had us doing...my do that myself for practice...

 

[AdamG]

Is it best to use solid core T&E for everything or should I throw in some stranded cable in for variety?

 

[acat]

Put as much as you can in the whole idea is to know your testing and expected results better than anything else and dont forget to practice safe isolation as well.


Chris

 

[Golden_Boy]

Put as much as you can in the whole idea is to know your testing and expected results better than anything else and dont forget to practice safe isolation as well.


Chris

The problem with a test set up like that is that your results are always going to be perfect. Unless you build in some type of fault simulation ( resistors at certain points ) Only problem then is make sure you put the faults on after the pub on a friday night and then look for them the next day