How To Pat Test 125 Amp Equipment

[Neil1969]

hi today for the first time ever whilst pat testing a factory I have come across a piece of equipment with a 415v 3 phase 125 amp socket on it. Can anyone advise on the procedure for testing this type of socket and equipment as I have only ever seen 63amp test adaptors and thought this should be fixed wired.

 

[Pete999]

hi today for the first time ever whilst pat testing a factory I have come across a piece of equipment with a 415v 3 phase 125 amp socket on it. Can anyone advise on the procedure for testing this type of socket and equipment as I have only ever seen 63amp test adaptors and thought this should be fixed wired.

Have you a copy of the ISITEE the old PATesting Bible?

 

[HandySparks]

Hopefully the equipment in question has a plug on the end of its supply cable?

I don't believe that the rating of the equipment has any bearing on the testing process unless you're going to be checking actual load and earth leakage.

If it's just one occasion, I might concoct some arrangement of wire and croc clips to connect to the appliance plug pins. Better would be to make your own adaptor using a socket of the correct type.

 

[Neil1969]

Have you a copy of the ISITEE the old PATesting Bible?

Hi Pete sorry I don't have a copy of this. Is it available to download anywhere?

 

[Neil1969]

Hopefully the equipment in question has a plug on the end of its supply cable?

I don't believe that the rating of the equipment has any bearing on the testing process unless you're going to be checking actual load and earth leakage.

If it's just one occasion, I might concoct some arrangement of wire and croc clips to connect to the appliance plug pins. Better would be to make your own adaptor using a socket of the correct type.

Hiya Yes it has a plug on the end of the equipment but it is huge!!!! I've looked around and not been able to find a test adaptor above 63amp online so thought it might be a specialist job to test. By the looks of things it's never been tested before when they have had previous pay tests done.

I was really just wondering if I should advise them to get it checked by a specialist company as the cable/socket is huge or whether I could get an adaptor that fits it and my seaward prime test 350.

Thanks

 

[HandySparks]

Hiya Yes it has a plug on the end of the equipment but it is huge!!!! I've looked around and not been able to find a test adaptor above 63amp online so thought it might be a specialist job to test. By the looks of things it's never been tested before when they have had previous pay tests done.

I was really just wondering if I should advise them to get it checked by a specialist company as the cable/socket is huge or whether I could get an adaptor that fits it and my seaward prime test 350.

Thanks

Book:
http://electrical.------.org/books/inspection-test/in-service-inspection-4th-ed.cfm
You'll have to pay real money for this.

Adaptor:
Make your own
http://www.djanddiscostuff.com/cons...ailing-socket-125a-3p-e-400v-ip67-p3062/s3188

Just the first one I found. Probably available cheaper if you search.

 

[Neil1969]

Thanks Pete

 

[Pete999]

Thanks Pete

You are very Welcome Neil

 

[westward10]

You are not going to find an adaptor for that plug. Testing machinery of this size may not be just a case of "plugging it in" and pushing some buttons on your tester.
The earth continuity test you can probably make up a some sort of lead and use your tester. I would suggest however that whatever tester you are using it will be of no use when carrying out an insulation resistance test. I don't know what this item of equipment does, does it carry out multiple processes and incorporate several motors, if it does that may require multiple IR tests within the machine.
These machines are not kettles or toasters and your initial questions suggest to me this is outside the scope of your experience.

 

[Neil1969]

Thanks for the comments chaps. As the machine is heavy plant it is not really covered in the code of practice and I believe it really should have specialised maintenance program in place on a regular basis. It's the first time I have come across something of this size and was curious of the procedure going forward.
Thanks again for the posts.

 

[Adam W]

You'd test it the same as any other piece of equipment - connect all the phases and neutral together and test to CPC.
Test earth continuity in the usual way.
As others have suggested you may be better off either taking the plug off or putting crocodile clips on the pins instead of plugging it in - making up adaptors for every kind of plug would work out quite expensive, not to mention a pain to cart around with you just in case.

 

[oracle]

When I test any machine and need a plug to adapt, I ask around at the plant for one and to date have always been successful. Saves a mint especially when needing both male and female adaptors for three phase extension cables.

 

[Pete999]

Thanks for the comments chaps. As the machine is heavy plant it is not really covered in the code of practice and I believe it really should have specialised maintenance program in place on a regular basis. It's the first time I have come across something of this size and was curious of the procedure going forward.
Thanks again for the posts.

It's Electrical Equipment therefore it's covered by the code of practice ISTIEE

 

[westward10]

Thanks for the comments chaps. As the machine is heavy plant it is not really covered in the code of practice and I believe it really should have specialised maintenance program in place on a regular basis. It's the first time I have come across something of this size and was curious of the procedure going forward.
Thanks again for the posts.

Very wise, this kind of plant does need knowledge of it's operation to ensure all parts of it's electrical system are tested correctly. An insulation resistance test at the plug will really not prove much.

 

[ohreally]

I posted similar a while back, think the 125A plugs were about £95 http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/where-to-buy-63a-connectors.81153/