Scribd
Upload
30 views1 page

Testing

An electrical continuity test checks if current can flow throughout a circuit by applying a small voltage to one end and measuring the other. The test involves removing the line conductor from the circuit breaker and connecting it to earth, then measuring the resistance between line and earth terminals which should be less than 1 ohm. An insulation resistance test measures the resistance to current leakage through insulation by applying 500V DC between line to neutral, line to earth, and neutral to earth, with the minimum allowed reading being 1MΩ.

Uploaded by

eng173wo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
30 views1 page

Testing

An electrical continuity test checks if current can flow throughout a circuit by applying a small voltage to one end and measuring the other. The test involves removing the line conductor from the circuit breaker and connecting it to earth, then measuring the resistance between line and earth terminals which should be less than 1 ohm. An insulation resistance test measures the resistance to current leakage through insulation by applying 500V DC between line to neutral, line to earth, and neutral to earth, with the minimum allowed reading being 1MΩ.

Uploaded by

eng173wo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CONTINUITY TEST

What is a continuity test?

An electrical continuity test is the checking of an electric circuit to see if the current flows
throughout the circuit. A continuity test is performed by applying a small voltage to one end of the
circuit and measuring on the other end.

The Continuity/Polarity Test sequence:

Before everything, a safe isolation procedure must be carried out.

 Step 1. Select the circuit to be tested in the distribution board (DB) and remove the Line
conductor from the MCB.
 Step 2. Connect the Line conductor (R1) to the Earth conductor (R2). This way you will form
a circuit which is half made up of the Line conductor and half made of the Earth conductor.
 Step 3. Do a visual inspection of the test equipment and select the correct test function,
which is the orange low reading ohm meter function (Ω).
 Step 4. Null the test instrument if required by connecting the two test leads together and
pressing the TEST button until the measured value on the display becomes zero ohm`s.
 Step 5. Measure between Line and Earth terminals at the farthest point in the circuit, usually
the lighting one. The same should be done at each outlet in the circuit. The highest reading
should be recorded on the Schedule of Test Results as the value of (R1+R2), normally < 1 Ω.
 Step 6. While doing Step 5 at the lighting point, check polarity by switching on and off the
switch/es. When off (the circuit open), the readings will be off the scale.
 Step 7. Return the Line conductor back into the MCB and Earth Conductor to the Earth Bar.

INSULATION RESISTANCE TEST

What is insulation resistance?

Insulation resistance is defined as the resistance to current leakage through and over the surface of
the insulation material surrounding a conductor.

The Insulation Resistance test sequence:

Before everything, a safe isolation procedure must be carried out and all loads (lamps, etc) removed.

 Step 1. Turn the function selector on the test equipment to the red Voltage section with the
MΩ symbol above. For our 230V a.c. circuit select 500V d.c.
 Step 2. Link the crocodile clips of the tester together to test the leads and press the TEST
button. It should read 0.00 MΩ.
 Step 3. At the Distribution Board connect one of the test leads to the Line conductor and the
other one to the Neutral conductor and press and hold the TEST button – the tester will
display a value in Ohms. Make a note of the reading and record on the Schedule of Test
Results.
 Step 4. Repeat the test process with one of the test leads on the Line conductor and the
other one on the Earth conductor.
 Step 5. Repeat the test process with one of the test leads on the Neutral conductor and the
other one on the Earth conductor

The minimum allowed value in BS7671 is 1MΩ for a 230V a.c. circuit. A further investigation is
required for results between 1 and 2MΩ.

You might also like