M
Mr Curnow
To start off I will introduce all the exams you will have to take for this course, I haven't passed it yet but I know what they want from you.This may be different from what you're actually doing, I heard the 204 is luminaire and 3 phase testing but I have been told at college it was like this. I only have the 206 practical left, it's my last chance to pass if not I'm screwed.
Contents:
The exams.
201 online
202 online
203 online
204 practical preparation
205 online
206 practical exam (bay in a day)
Voltage testing
Where and how should I revise?
On site guide: BS7671 2008 17th edition.
Basic electrical installation work: level 2 city and guilds 2330 technical certificate.
My advice.
Let's start.
Exams
The first two exams you will have is the 201 and the 202 online exams, in my opinion these are quite easy but you still need to put in the work. You should take them both on the same day.
201 online exam - working effectively and safely in the electrotechnical environment.
202 online exam - principles of electrotechnology
Next you will take the 203 and 205 online exams, again these aren't too hard, if you've revised the whole year on the books I am going to mention in a minute you will be fine.
203 online exam - Application of health and safety and electrical principles.
205 online exam - Installation (buildings and structures)
The online exams are obviously sat on computers, they are multiple choice. A,B,C,D and I think they have about 20 or 30 questions, hard to remember.
204 exam - practical preparation.
You'll need to describe the safe isolation procedure, I think this is right.
1. Firstly test that the supply for power, place one lead of the tester on the neutral and the other on line.
2. Turn off the supply mains switch.
3. Place a warning sign on the switch to notify others, if they managed to turn it on then your life is at risk.
4. Lock the supply off.
5. Keep the key in your pocket, you don't want someone having access to the switch again putting your life at risk.
6. Test the supply is dead, test between the Neutral + Line, Earth + Line then the Earth + Neutral.
7. Finally prove that the test lamp is working with the proving unit.
Next you'll need to write down all your materials list, can't help you with this one the installations vary.
Write down the tools you'll be using.
Write down the safety equipment and why you need it.
Steel toe cap boots - to protect feet from falling objects.
Ear defenders - to protect ears when drilling into walls.
Safety goggles - to protect eyes when drilling into walls.
Signs - to show that people are working on the installation.
The wiring diagrams, again can't help you as every installation is different.
206 practical exam.
Bay in a day, well it's not actually a day it's about 9 or 10 hours. You lose a lot of points when you don't terminate your cables tight, make them really tight about 4 points each. They are really picky on this exam.
You'll need to actually carry out the safe isolation procedure so just remember what I say from the above.
Continuity of live conductors.
This means the line and neutral a live wire is one that carries electricity don't confuse with line (brown). Neutral is live aswell.
You connect line + neutral at the consumer unit, set the tester to ohms to test the last part of the circuit, the accessory which is the furthest away, test between line + neutral terminal.
A good reading is a low reading if it's something like 1000 ohms your circuit is not broken.
Continuity of CPC.
There are two test methods for this one, choose test method 1, this also proves polarity.
Connect line + earth at the consumer unit, set the test to ohms to test the lastpart of the circuit, the accessory which is the furthest away, test between line + earth terminal.
Insulation resistance.
Set your tester to 1000V, then at the consumer unit test with crocodile clips on your test leads test between line + neutral, line + earth, neutral+ earth.
We want a reading of greater than 2000M ohms, it should come up on your tester >1000M, if so success
Books
Basic electrical installations by trevor linsley.
It's a very good book, you should buy it and start revising as soon as you can, it covers everything on the theory side. Basic Electrical Installation Work: Level 2 City & Guilds 2330 Technical Certificate: Amazon.co.uk: Trevor Linsley: Books
On site 17th edition is mandatory, but make sure that a new one isn't just about to come out, because if it does then you've just wasted money.
My advice
Start revising early, don't be cocky, if you find that you are struggling with the practical either ask your tutor if you can have extra practice. Take lots of notes especially when it comes to writing your materials list for the practical preparation. And buy the Basic electrical installations by trevor linsley, it's a life saver seriously good deal. Put lots of work in, like anything in life.
Good Luck!
If I have missed anything out then please tell me people, and if you like this guide then please show your appreciation as this did take me a while to write this, maybe this can even be an important thread as loads of people start off with city and guilds.
Contents:
The exams.
201 online
202 online
203 online
204 practical preparation
205 online
206 practical exam (bay in a day)
Voltage testing
Where and how should I revise?
On site guide: BS7671 2008 17th edition.
Basic electrical installation work: level 2 city and guilds 2330 technical certificate.
My advice.
Let's start.
Exams
The first two exams you will have is the 201 and the 202 online exams, in my opinion these are quite easy but you still need to put in the work. You should take them both on the same day.
201 online exam - working effectively and safely in the electrotechnical environment.
202 online exam - principles of electrotechnology
Next you will take the 203 and 205 online exams, again these aren't too hard, if you've revised the whole year on the books I am going to mention in a minute you will be fine.
203 online exam - Application of health and safety and electrical principles.
205 online exam - Installation (buildings and structures)
The online exams are obviously sat on computers, they are multiple choice. A,B,C,D and I think they have about 20 or 30 questions, hard to remember.
204 exam - practical preparation.
You'll need to describe the safe isolation procedure, I think this is right.
1. Firstly test that the supply for power, place one lead of the tester on the neutral and the other on line.
2. Turn off the supply mains switch.
3. Place a warning sign on the switch to notify others, if they managed to turn it on then your life is at risk.
4. Lock the supply off.
5. Keep the key in your pocket, you don't want someone having access to the switch again putting your life at risk.
6. Test the supply is dead, test between the Neutral + Line, Earth + Line then the Earth + Neutral.
7. Finally prove that the test lamp is working with the proving unit.
Next you'll need to write down all your materials list, can't help you with this one the installations vary.
Write down the tools you'll be using.
Write down the safety equipment and why you need it.
Steel toe cap boots - to protect feet from falling objects.
Ear defenders - to protect ears when drilling into walls.
Safety goggles - to protect eyes when drilling into walls.
Signs - to show that people are working on the installation.
The wiring diagrams, again can't help you as every installation is different.
206 practical exam.
Bay in a day, well it's not actually a day it's about 9 or 10 hours. You lose a lot of points when you don't terminate your cables tight, make them really tight about 4 points each. They are really picky on this exam.
You'll need to actually carry out the safe isolation procedure so just remember what I say from the above.
Continuity of live conductors.
This means the line and neutral a live wire is one that carries electricity don't confuse with line (brown). Neutral is live aswell.
You connect line + neutral at the consumer unit, set the tester to ohms to test the last part of the circuit, the accessory which is the furthest away, test between line + neutral terminal.
A good reading is a low reading if it's something like 1000 ohms your circuit is not broken.
Continuity of CPC.
There are two test methods for this one, choose test method 1, this also proves polarity.
Connect line + earth at the consumer unit, set the test to ohms to test the lastpart of the circuit, the accessory which is the furthest away, test between line + earth terminal.
Insulation resistance.
Set your tester to 1000V, then at the consumer unit test with crocodile clips on your test leads test between line + neutral, line + earth, neutral+ earth.
We want a reading of greater than 2000M ohms, it should come up on your tester >1000M, if so success
Books
Basic electrical installations by trevor linsley.
It's a very good book, you should buy it and start revising as soon as you can, it covers everything on the theory side. Basic Electrical Installation Work: Level 2 City & Guilds 2330 Technical Certificate: Amazon.co.uk: Trevor Linsley: Books
On site 17th edition is mandatory, but make sure that a new one isn't just about to come out, because if it does then you've just wasted money.
My advice
Start revising early, don't be cocky, if you find that you are struggling with the practical either ask your tutor if you can have extra practice. Take lots of notes especially when it comes to writing your materials list for the practical preparation. And buy the Basic electrical installations by trevor linsley, it's a life saver seriously good deal. Put lots of work in, like anything in life.
Good Luck!
If I have missed anything out then please tell me people, and if you like this guide then please show your appreciation as this did take me a while to write this, maybe this can even be an important thread as loads of people start off with city and guilds.
