2.5.

Testing of Installation

CONTENTS

- 1) Continuity of protective conductors

- 2) Continuity of ring final circuits.

- 3) Insulation test.
- 4) Verification of polarity.
- 5) Earth electrode test

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 2.5. Testing of Installation

 The testing of an electrical installation is an important and skillful task that needs

 qualified persons

 Technical knowledge or experience

 Understanding of Electrical Regulation and Standards of the Country (Ethiopia)

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 It is interesting to note that one of the items on the checklist is the presence of

diagrams, instructions and similar information. If these are missing then there is

a deviations from the IEE Regulations.

 Another item on the list is the verification of conductors for current-carrying

capacity and voltage drop in accordance with the design.

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Let us look then at the general content of the checklist.

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 Therefore, we have now inspected all relevant items, and provided that there
are no defects that may lead to a dangerous situation while testing, we can now
start the actual testing procedure.
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 Below is the sequence of testes, where applicable, for the initial testing of
anew installation. These tests may be carried out before the supply is
connected, or with the supply disconnected, as appropriate:
 
- 1) Continuity of protective conductors
- 2) Continuity of ring final circuits.
- 3) Insulation test.
- 4) Verification of polarity.
- 5) Earth electrode test.
 

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 1) Continuity of protective conductors test:

 The continuity of protective conductors (cpcs) and main and supplementary

bonding conductors(ring final circuits are dealt separately)should be tested to

verify that they are electrically sound and correctly connected .

 The test should be carried out using specialized low-reading ohm-meter or by

selecting the ohms scale on an insulation tester.

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The test is conducted in the following manner:

1. Temporarily link together the line conductor and cpc of the

circuit concerned in the distribution board (DB)
or consumer unit.

2. Test between line and cpc at each outlet in the circuit. A reading
indicates continuity.

3. Record the test result obtained at the furthest point in the

circuit. This value is ( R 1 + R 2 ) for the circuit.

 The resistance of the leads should be measured and the result

taken away from the first reading to obtain the final result.

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2) Continuity of Ring Final Circuit Conductors Test

 A test is required to verify the continuity of the phase, neutral and CPCs of every final
ring circuit.
 The test should be carried out using a specialized low – reading ohmmeter or by
selecting the ohm scale on an insulation tester.

 With each leg of the ring final circuit identified, the phase conductor of one leg
and the neutral of the other leg are bridged temporarily. A finite reading will
confirm that there is no open circuit on the ring final circuit conductors under
test. The remaining conductors are then temporarily bridged together.

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 3) Insulation Test

 The purpose of insulation test is to ensure that the insulation is sound and that
no faults exist between phase and neutral conductors and between each of
these conductors and earth.
 The test is carried out with the circuit to be tested isolated from the mains
supply , using an insulation tester on which mega ohm scale has been
selected.

 Affectionately known as ‘meggering’, an insulation resistance test is

performed to ensure that the insulation of conductors, accessories and
equipment is in a healthy condition, and will prevent dangerous leakage
currents between conductors, as well as between conductors and earth. It
also indicates whether any short circuits exist.
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 The voltage range to be used the minimum insulation resistance reading to
be achieved for particular types of circuit are listed.
 
 250v d.c for extra-low voltage circuits supplied from a safety isolating
transformer. Insulation resistance: not less than 0.25 mega ohms.
 500v d.c for circuits up to and including 500v.Insulation resistance: not less
than 0.5 mega ohms.
 1000v d.c. for circuits above 500v and upto 1000v. Insulation resistance: not
less than 1.0 mega ohm.

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 Before testing check:
1) Disconnect all items of equipment such as capacitors and indicator lamps as
these are likely to give misleading results.
 Remove any items of equipment likely to be damaged by the test, such as
dimmer switches, electronic timers, etc.
 Remove all lamps and accessories and disconnect fluorescent and discharge
fittings.
 Ensure that the installation is disconnected from the supply, all fuses are in
place, and cb’s and switches are in the ‘on’ position.
In some instances it may be impracticable to remove lamps, etc. and in this
case the local switch controlling such equipment may be left in the ‘off ’
position.
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2. Join together all live conductors of the supply and test between this joint and

earth. Alternatively, test between each live conductor and earth in turn.

3. Test between line and neutral. For three-phase systems, join together all
lines and test between this joint and the neutral.
 Then test between each of the lines. Alternatively, test between each of the live
conductors in turn.
 Installations incorporating two-way lighting systems should be tested twice
with the two-way switches in alternative positions.

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 Single Phase:

 Connect the leads of the instrument between phase and neutral at the
appropriate fuse board. A reading is taken in mega ohms and this must not be
less than indicated above. For 240v single phase a.c. circuits this will be at
500v with an insulation resistance of not less than 0.5 mega ohms.
 
 When testing between phase and earth and neutral to earth, it is common
practice to bunch phase and neutral together and test between these and earth.
The same range is selected as for above and the reading taken in mega ohms,
and this must not be less than that indicated above .

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  The same procedure is applied for three phase and test between the neutral
conductor and the CPC.

4) Verification of polarity
The requirements are:

1. All fuses and single pole switches are in the line conductor.

2. The centre contact of an Edison screw-type lampholder is connected to the

line conductor.

3. All socket outlets and similar accessories are correctly wired.

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  There are two methods of testing polarity:
1.With the supply switched off.
2.With the supply switched on.
 With the supply switched off the polarity can be tested by the use of an
ohmmeter or the continuity range of an insulation and continuity tester.

 With the main switch off, circuit fuses in place, lighting switches off and all
lamps and equipment removed, the phase and the consumers earthing terminal
are linked.
 

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 With lighting final circuits a test is made between earth and each of the

terminals of the switch; only one of the terminals, the phase connection, should

indicate a continuous circuit on the continuity tester. On socket outlet final

circuits a test between phase and the CPC will indicate a continuous circuit on

the continuity tester though if the continuity of ring final circuit tests have

been carried out no further testing is really required.

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 The above method is the safest method and is the one most widely used. The

electrician is sometimes asked to carry out test on existing installations and it

is not always convenient to switch off the supply. Under these circumstances

the test can be carried out with the use of a voltmeter or approved test lamp.

 Each of the outlets is visited in turn and it is ascertained that the phase

conductors do in fact go to the correct terminals(see figures provided)

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