Electrical Testing Procedures (Capstone Testing Room)

• Conducted on

  Date

• Prepared by

• Location
  Address

• The following are the recommended preparation steps for electrical testing

Risk assessment

• Complete a risk assessment for the electrical testing to be undertaken

  Completed

Battery check

• Check that Insulation Resistance tester has good battery level for testing

  Completed

Calibration check

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• Using calibration test block, check that ohmmeter is reading resistance values accurately on the 3Ω and 500Ω scales

  Reads accurately

  Dose not read accurately

• Select another insulation resistance tester to utilise for installation testing

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• Using calibration test block, check the insulation resistance tester is reading accurately 1MΩ on the 500v scale and is maintaining its terminal voltage within +20% and -10% of the nominal terminal voltage while testing this resistance

  Select Accurate within voltage limits Not accurate within voltage limits

  • Accurate within voltage limits
  • Not accurate within voltage limits

• Select another insulation resistance tester to utilise for installation testing

Preparing the installation for testing

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• Turn off all circuit breakers on D.B2, D.B1 and MSB. Main switches can remain in the "On" position

  Completed

• Remove primary fuses

  Completed

Testing to prove installation is de-energised

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• At MSB test that supply has been isolated (check test equipment is functioning, test supply is isolated, re-check test equipment is functioning)

  Completed

Preparing MSB for testing

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• Remove the consumers mains neutral at the point of supply. For underground supply, remove the consumers mains neutral at the pillar box (Green boy)

  Completed

• Disconnect the service neutral bond at the point of attachment (Overhead supply only)

  Completed

• At the MSB, remove the consumers mains neutral and MEN connection and ensure separation

  Completed

• Remove meter neutral

  Completed

• At sub-board D.B1 remove the sub-main neutral and ensure separation

  Completed

Testing earth resistance values at MSB

• Earth continuity and resistance tests are necessary to ensure that the earthing system has been installed in an appropriate manner and that the resistance of the protective earthing conductor is low enough to permit the passage of sufficient current to cause the circuit protective devices to operate if there is a fault between live parts and exposed conductive parts.

• When conducting earth continuity testing, remove the earth you are testing from the earth bar to break any possible parallel path and reconnect it after you have tested its resistance value.

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• Test to confirm earth resistance values of the main earthing conductor and sub-main protective earth do not exceed the maximum values permitted. Additionally, ensure that MSB meter enclosure is earthed.

  Completed

• Main earthing conductor and bonding conductor resistances were equal to or lower than 0.5Ω and protective earth values were within the limits of values given in Table 8.2 AS/NZS 3000:2018

  Yes

  No

• Please provide details of any non-compliant earth resistance values

Testing insulation resistance values at MSB

• Insulation resistance tests are necessary to ensure that the insulation resistance between all live conductors and earth or, as the case may be, all live parts and earth is adequate to ensure the integrity of the insulation. This is to prevent electric shock hazards from inadvertent contact, fire hazards from short circuits and equipment damage.

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Consumers mains

• At the main switch test insulation integrity between all phases of the consumers mains and earth

  Completed

• At the main switch test insulation integrity between all phases and disconnected consumers mains neutral (not the neutral bar)

  Completed

• Test insulation integrity between the disconnected consumers mains neutral and earth

  Completed

• Due to the kWh meter being connected it is not possible to test insulation resistance values between phases of the consumers mains. Meter isolation links will need to be removed to allow insulation resistance testing to be conducted between phases on the line side of the isolation link.

• Remove meter isolation links

  Completed

• On the line side of the meter isolation links test insulation integrity between phases

  Completed

Sub-mains to DB1

• On the load side of the sub-main protection device (located at MSB) test insulation integrity between all phases and earth.

  Completed

• On the load side of the sub-main protection device test insulation integrity between all phases and sub-main neutral

  Completed

• Test insulation integrity between sub-main neutral and earth

  Completed

• On the load side of the sub-main protection device test insulation integrity between phases

  Completed

• Tested insulation resistance values were greater than 1MΩ (0.01MΩ for sheathed heating elements) in compliance with AS/NZS 3000 requirement

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non-compliant insulation resistance values

Polarity testing at MSB

• Polarity testing is necessary to ensure that no shock hazard results from the incorrect connection of active, neutral and earthing conductors. There are three reasons for this testing. Firstly, this testing is to ensure active and neutral conductor conductors of the consumers mains are not transposed resulting in the electrical installation earthing system becoming energised. Secondly, to ensure that there are no combinations of incorrect active, neutral and earthing conductor connections resulting in the exposed conductive parts of the electrical installation becoming energised. Finally, to ensure that switches do not operate in the neutral conductors, resulting in parts of appliances, such as heating elements and lamp holders, remaining energised when the switches are in the off position. Phase sequence testing is necessary to ensure that multi-phase equipment operates in a predictable manner, e.g. multi-phase motors, semiconductor controlled equipment etc.

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Consumers mains

• For this testing, please re-insert the meter isolation links at the MSB

• Test to confirm that each phase conductor is electrically continuous from the point of supply to the main switch (located at MSB). Additionally, check that there is no reversal of phases.

  Completed

• Test to confirm that the consumers mains neutral is electrically continuous from the point of supply to the MSB

  Completed

Sub-Mains

• Test to confirm that each sub-main phase conductor is electrically continuous from the MSB to DB1 and that no phases have been reversed

  Completed

• Test to confirm that the sub-main neutral conductor is electrically continuous from the MSB to DB1

  Completed

• Polarity and phase rotation were confirmed as correct for circuits tested

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non-compliant polarity detected

Correct circuit connections at MSB

• Tests for correct circuit connections are necessary for two reasons. Firstly, to ensure that protective earthing conductors do not carry current in non-fault conditions, and secondly, to ensure that no short circuit exists, because a short circuit flowing between live conductors and through part of the earthing system can cause considerable fire damage or personal injury, particularly in high current locations.

• The active, neutral and protective earthing conductors of each circuit shall be correctly connected so that there is no short circuit between the conductors, there is no transposition of conductors that could result in the earthing system and any exposed conductive parts of the electrical system becoming energised and finally, that there is no interconnection of conductors between different circuits.

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• Test to confirm that each pole of the main switch and sub-main circuit breaker are switching to open and close the circuit

  Completed

• Correct circuit connections were confirmed as being correct for all circuits tested

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non-compliant correct circuit connections detected.

Restoring, re-energising MSB and locking out DB1 circuit protection device

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• Check that DB1 circuit protection device is in the OFF position

  Completed

• Re-establish the neutral connection at the point of supply (for overhead supply, leave neutral service bond disconnected)

  Completed

• Ensure that the consumers mains neutral and MEN link are still disconnected

  Completed

• Insert the three service fuses

  Completed

• Check that meter neutral is still disconnected

  Completed

• Using a voltmeter, test between each energised phase and neutral of the consumers mains (24v is expected)

  Completed

• Using a voltmeter, test between the disconnected consumers mains neutral and earth (0v is expected)

  Completed

• Using a voltmeter, test between each energised phase and earth of the consumers mains (24v is expected)

  Completed

• Using a voltmeter, test between all phases (41.5v is expected)

  Completed

• After confirming supply polarity is correct reconnect the consumers mains neutral, MEN link and meter neutral

  Completed

• Replace any panels or covers that have been removed from the MSB

  Completed

• Check that the conductive parts of the MSB are not live using a proximity device

  Completed

• Fit lockout device to sub-main circuit protection device

  Completed

• For overhead supply, check the neutral service bond is not live using a proximity device and re-connect

  Completed

Proving energisation of DB1

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• At DB1 test that supply has been isolated (check test equipment is functioning, test supply is isolated, re-check test equipment is functioning)

  Completed

Testing earth resistance values at DB1

• Earth continuity and resistance tests are necessary to ensure that the earthing system has been installed in an appropriate manner and that the resistance of the protective earthing conductor is low enough to permit the passage of sufficient current to cause the circuit protective devices to operate if there is a fault between live parts and exposed conductive parts.

• When conducting earth continuity testing, remove the earth you are testing from the earth bar to break any possible parallel path and reconnect it after you have tested its resistance value. (I would not recommend removing multiple earths at a time)

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• Test to confirm resistance values of the bonding conductor and protective earthing conductors do not exceed the maximum values permitted. Additionally, ensure that DB1switchboard enclosure is earthed.

  Completed

• Bonding conductor resistance did not exceed 0.5Ω and protective earthing conductor values were within the limits of values given in Table 8.2 AS/NZS 3000:2018

  Yes

  No

• Please provide details of any non-compliant earth resistance values

Testing insulation resistance at DB1

• Insulation resistance tests are necessary to ensure that the insulation resistance between all live conductors and earth or, as the case may be, all live parts and earth is adequate to ensure the integrity of the insulation. This is to prevent electric shock hazards from inadvertent contact, fire hazards from short circuits and equipment damage.

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Final sub-circuits

• Ensure all final sub-circuit circuit protection devices are in the OFF position

  Completed

• Ensure that all switches are in the on position for each final sub-circuit

  Completed

• On the load side of final sub-circuit circuit protection devices test insulation integrity between live conductors and earth

  Completed

• Insulation resistance values were greater than the AS/NZS 3000:2018 minimum allowable 1MΩ

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non-compliant insulation resistance values

Sub-mains supplying DB2

• On the load side of the sub-main protection device (located at DB1) test insulation integrity between active and earth.

  Completed

• On the load side of the sub-main protection device test insulation integrity between sub-main active and neutral

  Completed

• Test insulation integrity between sub-main neutral and earth

  Completed

• Tested insulation resistance values were greater than 1MΩ (0.01MΩ for sheathed heating elements) in compliance with AS/NZS 3000 requirement

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non-compliant insulation resistance values

Polarity testing at DB1

• Polarity testing is necessary to ensure that no shock hazard results from the incorrect connection of active, neutral and earthing conductors. There are three reasons for this testing. Firstly, this testing is to ensure active and neutral conductor conductors of the consumers mains are not transposed resulting in the electrical installation earthing system becoming energised. Secondly, to ensure that there are no combinations of incorrect active, neutral and earthing conductor connections resulting in the exposed conductive parts of the electrical installation becoming energised. Finally, to ensure that switches do not operate in the neutral conductors, resulting in parts of appliances, such as heating elements and lamp holders, remaining energised when the switches are in the off position. Phase sequence testing is necessary to ensure that multi-phase equipment operates in a predictable manner, e.g. multi-phase motors, semiconductor controlled equipment etc.

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Final sub-circuits

• Test to confirm that there has been no transposition of final sub-circuit active and neutral conductors. In addition, for three phase final sub-circuits test to confirm there has been no transposition of phase conductors

  Completed

Sub-mains supplying DB2

• Test to confirm that there has been no transposition of sub-main active and neutral conductors.

  Completed

• Polarity and phase rotation were confirmed as correct for circuits tested

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non-compliant polarity detected

Correct circuit connections at DB1

• Tests for correct circuit connections are necessary for two reasons. Firstly, to ensure that protective earthing conductors do not carry current in non-fault conditions, and secondly, to ensure that no short circuit exists, because a short circuit flowing between live conductors and through part of the earthing system can cause considerable fire damage or personal injury, particularly in high current locations.

• The active, neutral and protective earthing conductors of each circuit shall be correctly connected so that there is no short circuit between the conductors, there is no transposition of conductors that could result in the earthing system and any exposed conductive parts of the electrical system becoming energised and finally, that there is no interconnection of conductors between different circuits.

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• Test to confirm there are no interconnections between conductors of other circuits

  Completed

• Test to confirm there are no short circuits active and neutral conductors of each final sub-circuit. In addition, for three phase final sub-circuits test to confirm there are no short circuits between phases

  Completed

• Test to confirm that each pole of circuit protection devices are switching to open and close the circuit

  Completed

• Correct circuit connections were confirmed as being correct for all circuits tested

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non-compliant correct circuit connections detected.

Earth Fault Loop Impedance at DB1

• The earth fault loop impedance of a circuit is measured to ensure that, if a fault of negligible impedance occurs between an active conductor and a protective earthing conductor or an exposed conductive part, sufficient current would flow in the earth fault loop to cause a protective device to operate within the specified disconnection time

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• Ensure the three phase outlet isolator switch is in the ON position

  Completed

• Short one phase of the circuit supplying three phase socket outlet to the earth at DB1

  Completed

• At the three phase socket outlet measure the combined resistance of the phase and earthing conductor that have been shorted

  Completed

• Repeat these steps for each additional phase

  Completed

• Combined resistance values (Rphe) did not exceed the maximum permitted in table 8.2 of the AS/NZS 3000:2018

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of non-compliant fault loop impedance values

Restoring, re-energising and locking out DB2 circuit protection device

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• Restore the sub-main neutral and earth connections at DB1

  Completed

• Re-fit any switchboard panels or covers that were removed for testing

  Completed

• Lockout the circuit protection device supplying DB2

  Completed

• Remove lockout device from DB1 circuit protection device and turn circuit breaker to the ON position

  Completed

Proving energisation of DB1

• At DB2 test that supply has been isolated (check test equipment is functioning, test supply is isolated, re-check test equipment is functioning)

  Completed

Testing earth resistances at DB2

• When conducting earth continuity testing, remove the earth you are testing from the earth bar to break any possible parallel path and reconnect it after you have tested its resistance value. (I would not recommend removing multiple earths at a time)

• Check earth resistance value of the sub-main earthing conductor, bonding conductor and all protective earthing conductors at DB2

  Completed

• Bonding conductor resistance did not exceed 0.5Ω and protective earth values were within the limits of values given in Table 8.2 AS/NZS 3000:2018

  Yes

  No

• Please provide details of any non-compliant earth resistance values

Testing insulation resistance at DB2

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• Test insulation resistance of all final sub-circuits between all live conductors and earth

  Completed

• Tested insulation resistance values were greater than 1MΩ (0.01MΩ for sheathed heating elements) in compliance with AS/NZS 3000 requirement

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non compliant insulation resistance values

Testing polarity at DB2

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• Test that all active and neutral conductors are electrically continuous to their respective terminals. Check that active conductors are switched and neutral conductors are not switched. (5Ω and 10Ω resistors can be used for this test)

  Completed

• All circuits have tested correct for polarity in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 requirements

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non-compliant polarity found

Testing for correct circuit connections at DB2

• Test to confirm that there are no short circuits between active to neutral on any of the final sub-circuits

  Completed

• Test to confirm that there is no interconnection between any of the final sub-circuit conductors between circuits at DB2

  Completed

• Correct circuit connections were confirmed as being correct for all circuits tested

  Yes

  No

• Provide details of any non-compliant correct circuit connections detected.

• After completion of de-energised testing and re-energisation of supply, RCD function must be checked by pressing the "Test" button or using RCD testing device to trip the RCD. As the switching function of the RCD has already been confirmed in de-energised testing there is no need to re-confirm.