What British Standard covers the testing of LV Switchpanels and in particular busbars.

I am looking for the documented testing requirements for LV switch panels and busbars. I am specifically interested to know the values and test currents for low resistance ohmeter testing. Online I have only been able to locate the approved Americal document (ANSI/NETA MTS-2023 Standard for Maintenance Testing Specifications for Electrical Power Equipment and Systems) which is a good document, but I suspect not relivant in the UK.

Thanks.

Parents
  • Are we taking manufacture stage testing or in-service testing? For the former I'd try the appropriate equipment standard (e.g. BS EN 61439-6). For the latter, I'm not sure there are any general requirements beyond the principles of BS 7671 and established good practice (e.g. in some situations thermal imaging might be one way of spotting local high resistances). Others here may know better than me on that point though. The tests of the equipment standard might 'inform' later testing, but often manufacture time tests are more demanding that would be good to do repeatedly (e.g. hi-pot testing) so some engineering judgement is as ever called for.

      - Andy.

Reply
  • Are we taking manufacture stage testing or in-service testing? For the former I'd try the appropriate equipment standard (e.g. BS EN 61439-6). For the latter, I'm not sure there are any general requirements beyond the principles of BS 7671 and established good practice (e.g. in some situations thermal imaging might be one way of spotting local high resistances). Others here may know better than me on that point though. The tests of the equipment standard might 'inform' later testing, but often manufacture time tests are more demanding that would be good to do repeatedly (e.g. hi-pot testing) so some engineering judgement is as ever called for.

      - Andy.

Children
  • Testing at time of installation. As such thermal imaging testing for example is testing once the load and fault is present rather than preventative. I have recently read a manufactures installation manual that stated simply... "complete ductor testing" but with no further detail or guidance on expected results. and of course, a 'ductor' tester is the old Megger version of a low ohms tester. I agree its outside of the scope of 7671 but keen to see what standards it should fall under.