Zs, to test or calculate?

davezawadi (David Stone):

Well Graham, perhaps you have hit the nail on the head. I like to do testing with 2 people with radio communications, it is very much quicker, and overcomes your idea that an open accessory or whatever left with a meter and perhaps a warning notice is dangerous to anyone. The idea that one man tests a large installation by walking miles each day is simply arcane.

Hang on ... you mentioned the isolate ... connect ... renergize process?

We are in the 21st-century and need to use 21st-century tools. R1 + R2 testing takes very little time, insulation testing has someone close to the items being tested etc. You can see how this is so much safer and quicker but want to give a method statement and procedure which removes the value of the work.

Even with 2 people, it's still unfortunately a "process" or "method" vs "safety". As I said, it's not a matter of changing "what the electrician thinks is best" on these sites, but convincing the H&S Team - who might well be held at least partly to account if the maintenance checks on their electrical systems were deemed inadequate, so I guess after all it's their call.

So be it, but I hope there is never a problem due to inadequate testing, it is likely one day. Personally I have no problem with live testing at all, but then I am of that age.

So, you mentioned 21st century.


I have a feeling that we are at a point where loop testing and prospective fault current testing might be a thing of the past ... because microgeneration with inverter output can provide a totally erroneous and meaningless reading.

davezawadi (David Stone):

Well Graham, perhaps you have hit the nail on the head. I like to do testing with 2 people with radio communications, it is very much quicker, and overcomes your idea that an open accessory or whatever left with a meter and perhaps a warning notice is dangerous to anyone. The idea that one man tests a large installation by walking miles each day is simply arcane.

Hang on ... you mentioned the isolate ... connect ... renergize process?

We are in the 21st-century and need to use 21st-century tools. R1 + R2 testing takes very little time, insulation testing has someone close to the items being tested etc. You can see how this is so much safer and quicker but want to give a method statement and procedure which removes the value of the work.

Even with 2 people, it's still unfortunately a "process" or "method" vs "safety". As I said, it's not a matter of changing "what the electrician thinks is best" on these sites, but convincing the H&S Team - who might well be held at least partly to account if the maintenance checks on their electrical systems were deemed inadequate, so I guess after all it's their call.

So be it, but I hope there is never a problem due to inadequate testing, it is likely one day. Personally I have no problem with live testing at all, but then I am of that age.

So, you mentioned 21st century.


I have a feeling that we are at a point where loop testing and prospective fault current testing might be a thing of the past ... because microgeneration with inverter output can provide a totally erroneous and meaningless reading.