insulation testing

[banks]

hello i am a new member joined today

i wish to test my ring main for insulation ect.

how do i do this

thank you

 

[disinfo]

What test equipment do you have avaliable?

 

[banks]

What test equipment do you have avaliable?

multi meter

 

[disinfo]

To do an insulation resistance test on your ring final circuits, which is what I presume you mean you need either a dedicated insulation resistance meter or a multi function tester capable of creating test voltages of 250v, 500v.

A multimeter is not suitable for this application.

Why are you wanting to perform these tests?

 

[electronicsuk]

What test equipment do you have avaliable?

multi meter

Impossible, I'm afraid.

EDIT: Bah, beaten!

 

[ban-all-sheds]

What test equipment do you have avaliable?

multi meter

Now's your chance to get what you need at an excellent price:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TELARIS-Dilog...yZ121877QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[disinfo]

And this maybe

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IEE-Guidance-...39:1|66:2|65:12|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[banks]

To do an insulation resistance test on your ring final circuits, which is what I presume you mean you need either a dedicated insulation resistance meter or a multi function tester capable of creating test voltages of 250v, 500v.

A multimeter is not suitable for this application.

Why are you wanting to perform these tests?

after i moved into the property i found that one end of the ring had been cut off at the fuse box

so all the sockets were in effect on a radial circuit

i have now replaced the last length of cable and and i know have a ring

i just thought that to test the circuit would be a good idea

 

[ban-all-sheds]

So that will be continuity of the conductors, continuity of the ring conductors, insulation resistance and polarity.

Do you also want to check that things were OK before, and measure the fault loop resistance and test the RCD?

 

[Spark123]

Won't end to end continuity of ring conductors followed continuity with the cross connections in place cover the circuit polarity check?

 

[Taylortwocities]

Yes, but he could do that (with not much accurancy) using his multimeter.

I think BAS is gently hinting that there's more to it than continuity and insulation resistance.

 

[banks]

So that will be continuity of the conductors, continuity of the ring conductors, insulation resistance and polarity.

Do you also want to check that things were OK before, and measure the fault loop resistance and test the RCD?

yes all this if poss.

 

[mattylad]

I dont think they have said it yet but you may be better off just getting in an electrician to test it for you & do a PIR.
It may cost less than purchasing the correct equipment to do it all.

Unless you can borrow the gear (and someone that knows how to use it)

 

[davy_owen_88]

So that will be continuity of the conductors, continuity of the ring conductors, insulation resistance and polarity.

Do you also want to check that things were OK before, and measure the fault loop resistance and test the RCD?

yes all this if poss.

It isn't possible to perform all those tests with a multimeter.

Set your multimeter to the resistance setting, and select the lowest range available. Isolate the power supply and remove both legs of the ring final circuit from the fuse/mcb, also remove the neutral and earth conductors from the relevant block.

Now connect one probe to the phase conductor of one leg, and the other probe to the phase conductor of the other leg. If you get a low reading (and probably a buzzing noise from the meter) then you have continuity. Repeat the above only end-to-end for the neutral and earth conductor.

Now at the consumer unit connect the phase conductor of one leg to the neutral conductor of the other leg. Now go around behind each socket and test the resistance between phase and neutral - if every socket is on the ring, with no interconnections or spurs then the results should be pretty much the same. If most are the same and then the results start increasing and then decreasing abck to the original result you have an interconnection between sockets. If you have one high reading then you might have a loose connection or that socket could be a spur. An open circuit reading (infinite resistance) means the connections at the socket are wrong (either phase or neutral is swopped with the earth).

Repeat the above but now cross connect phase and earth conductors at the CU and test between them at the sockets.

You can not perform an insulation resistance test using a standard multimeter, nor can you test the RCD is functioning correctly. You also won't be able to test the external earth resistance so you can't confirm that your Zs is within limits. If you want to do these other tests, then you need to get yourself a multifunction tester and a few books before you even think about doing any form of live tests.

A better option to doing this work yourself when you don't seem to have any knowledge of testing, is to get an electrician in to do it for you. Would definately work out cheaper than buying the gear to do it yourself.