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testing safe of a 16 Amp commando socket/plug

Former Community Member
Former Community Member
Hello,i am an RF engineer and we have equipment that is fed by rack mounted AC/DC converters which charge batteries. these converters are wired into fused spurs using 2.5mm arctic blue cable routed into cable trunking. the 2.5mm cable is fixed in the rack before entering the trunking.

At the moment we are all trained in testing the circuit is switched off using a martindale VIPD138 voltage indicator and proving unit and then we lock off the circuit.

Everyone's training is due to expire and our company health and safety department want to change the installation from the fused spur to 16 Amp commando sockets/plugs rather than retrain everyone in proving the circuit has been switched off.


I have no issues with using commando sockets instead of the fused spurs but my concern is that if the nearest location the commando socket can be mounted is the other end of the room and there are numerous commando sockets supplying different racks how do you prove you have pulled the correct plug? surely you have to still be able to test the circuit has been switched off using the tester and training required.


I am having a discussion with the Health and safety department next week so any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks
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    mapj1:

    We need the OP to come back and clarify - I had read it that there were exposed parts, as part of whatever the process is, and the question is more is unplugging and visual verification better than a switch.

    If not a pilot light would be a better design


    My understanding was that the supply is isolated and locked off. Then a lid is removed and before any further work is undertaken, the supply is proved dead.


    The alternative which has been proposed is to isolate by removing the plug so that proving dead is unnecessary. IMHO, that is fine provided that the plug remains under the control of the technician in the same way as the key of the padlock would be.


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  • 0
    mapj1:

    We need the OP to come back and clarify - I had read it that there were exposed parts, as part of whatever the process is, and the question is more is unplugging and visual verification better than a switch.

    If not a pilot light would be a better design


    My understanding was that the supply is isolated and locked off. Then a lid is removed and before any further work is undertaken, the supply is proved dead.


    The alternative which has been proposed is to isolate by removing the plug so that proving dead is unnecessary. IMHO, that is fine provided that the plug remains under the control of the technician in the same way as the key of the padlock would be.


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