Making a test board

[hightower]

Let's say I want to make a board to practice my testing on, what is the best way to go about it? Say, for example, I get a bit of plywood and stick a consumer unit on it, a few switches, lights, sockets, and various other things to mimic various setups, so I can cement the testing procedure - this is all well and good for the dead tests, but then what would be the best way to make this board live (and more importantly can it be done all legal like) so I can practice some live tests too?

Could it be powered through a socket in my garage (it will only be used to test with, so not loaded)? I would imagine this would be legal because it's just another bit of portable equipment as such and I wouldn't be messing about in the consumer unit of my house? I'd imagine if I did it this way the RCD tests would trip the RCD at the house consumer unit too?

 

[malcolmsanford]

Basically there is nothing stopping you doing anything you want in your own home...........as long as it is safe.

With something like a small test board, yes I would simply run it off a 13amp plug top so that it can be unplug when not in use.

Chances are yes you will trip your board RCD if the socekt you used is RCD protected. I would run a single socket of the non RCD side of the CU to your garage, surface and label it if your that keen. Or not label it and just remove it when you leave