The IET is carrying out some important updates between 17-30 April and all of our websites will be view only. For more information, read this Announcement

Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 22 replies
  • Subscribers 31 subscribers
  • Views 1373 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

Commercial EICR strategy?

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hi,


I've been tasked to do some EICR's on some commercial Car Showrooms. There's lots of old DB's, little or no circuit details and the previous EICR's stated that nothing could be tested due to not wanting circuits switched off. Personally I don't think it's worth even reporting if you aren't testing anything?


I wondered if anyone had a strategy for dealing with these situations. I'm not looking for anymore work so I'd rather not fail anything unless I absolutely have to. The customer wants as little interruption to the supply as possible.


A possible strategy:

Visual check

Identify circuits where possible

Take Zs readings where possible

Check db's for signs of thermal damage

Zsdb and ipf's

Check bonding

Check tightness of terminals in db's and sampled accessories

Report on what I've seen and tested with limitations on everything else.


It is going to be impossible to identify cpc's and neutrals associated with each circuit. IR testing would have to be very limited.


Below is a picture of what I am up against. There's a mix of old and new db's with many BS3871 MCB's.

f3685b9e83139223d5bf313572195363-huge-honda-mains-position.jpg


Any advice guy's?

Parents
  • 0
    There's very little, to no reason why you cant switch off - in an environment like a car show room, to do the testing; what happens in a normal power cut?


    The Server Rack should be UPS backed up. Sell them a UPS if not. Mondays in car show show rooms are normally very quite. 


    If you have to only do live testing (Which does happen in some environments) a very helpful addition to what you have described above is a mA Earth leak detection on the tails - this will give a good indication of possible IR deficiencies - especially any N-E faults (Lots of Amps earth leakage). Further Investigations may be then be the outcome to the EICR.


    Lots of long lead tests, Zs and Visuals is then your friend after that.
Reply
  • 0
    There's very little, to no reason why you cant switch off - in an environment like a car show room, to do the testing; what happens in a normal power cut?


    The Server Rack should be UPS backed up. Sell them a UPS if not. Mondays in car show show rooms are normally very quite. 


    If you have to only do live testing (Which does happen in some environments) a very helpful addition to what you have described above is a mA Earth leak detection on the tails - this will give a good indication of possible IR deficiencies - especially any N-E faults (Lots of Amps earth leakage). Further Investigations may be then be the outcome to the EICR.


    Lots of long lead tests, Zs and Visuals is then your friend after that.
Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines