How to test off-peak circuits? (Live Tests)

[Jamie]

Hi,

What do you guys do when it comes to "off peak" controlled circuits (i.e council housing heating boards)? The timeclock/supplier side of things is sealed with the tags, so no way to over ride it?

What do I put down on my test sheet/What's the best thing to do (I don't fancy waiting in a void until it comes on at night!)? What do you guys do?

Thanks,
Jamie

 

[Octopus]

Well..... I'm guessing you are signing this off - or is your boss?

 

[Jamie]

I put my signature at the bottom of the test sheet, it goes to the office and then a certificate is made up and sent out.

 

[Benjamiin]

Just do dead tests and write a limitation on the tesr form. If you can prove R1+R2 there's no need to live test!!

 

[davesparks]

You could feed the board via a temporary supply from the main board.

Or if just Zs tests use the test method where you join L to E at the far end of the circuit and test between the live of the main board and the live of the circuit in the off peak board.

 

[Octopus]

Just do dead tests and write a limitation on the tesr form. If you can prove R1+R2 there's no need to live test!!

Not sure I agree with this. Is this a new install or a modification as yet.

 

[Jamie]

Existing install, just a periodic test, new tenancy. No changes whatsoever since last test (5 months ago). This is the first void I have came across with electric heating still like this, they usually have new central heating put in and all the electric heating ripped out, doesn't look like it's happening with this void and i've been told to test the heating board too.

 

[graham123]

Just R1+R2 then calculate zs. Note in operational limtations that you have calculated zs

 

[Benjamiin]

Just do dead tests and write a limitation on the tesr form. If you can prove R1+R2 there's no need to live test!!

Not sure I agree with this. Is this a new install or a modification as yet.

I get what you mean murdoch, and in an ideal world all tests are done, but strictly speaking zs could be calculated and noted on form as mentioned above.

 

[Octopus]

I get what you mean murdoch, and in an ideal world all tests are done, but strictly speaking zs could be calculated and noted on form as mentioned above.

Now the OP has confirmed its an EICR I think the dead test only approach is correct!

 

[SirKit Breaker]

GN3 quotes "The main purpose of Periodic inspection and test is to ensure that the disconnection times in BS7671 can be met". So whatever test methods you adopt, as long as you can confirm compliance you have done your job. So calculation is more than acceptable.

Cheers............Howard.

 

[Jamie]

Now the OP has confirmed its an EICR I think the dead test only approach is correct!

So I'll just add my Ze to R1+R2 of dead test result and put this value in Zs column, and put a note on test sheet saying Zs has been calculated due to no power at time of test?

 

[Benjamiin]

Now the OP has confirmed its an EICR I think the dead test only approach is correct!

So I'll just add my Ze to R1+R2 of dead test result and put this value in Zs column, and put a note on test sheet saying Zs has been calculated due to no power at time of test?

Yep or note no live testing carried out and put lim in zs column!!

 

[davesparks]

Yep or note no live testing carried out and put lim in zs column!!

But you need to calculate Zs to confirm compliance with regulations anyway so you might as well write it down once it has been calculated.