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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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    Maybe I am just getting old, but I cannot remember there being voltage tester proving units in the college workshop, we were taught to test the tester on a known live supply then disconnect and prove dead, it was then proving the tester was still working that became difficult if the enclosure did not have live terminals in it.


    We were working in pairs testing consumer units in the college workshop and I was pushing the cover back on, the lecturer asked why saying we still had some more testing to do in a few minutes, I nodded at the guy who was supposed to be working with me but wasn’t paying attention and was talking to a guy in the next booth and said I didn’t want him to get an electric shock. The lecturer smiled and said it probably was a good move.


    When the meter guys and DNO guys pull the main fuse there al live terminal in the fuse holder that is not shrouded, Just one of the dangers from pulling the main fuse.


    Even disconnecting a washing machine from the supply by unplugging it doesn’t make it electrically safe does it?


    Consumer units have live terminals when “isolated”.


    Owning and using a proving unit doesn’t mean the unwary  are safe.
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    Maybe I am just getting old, but I cannot remember there being voltage tester proving units in the college workshop, we were taught to test the tester on a known live supply then disconnect and prove dead, it was then proving the tester was still working that became difficult if the enclosure did not have live terminals in it.


    We were working in pairs testing consumer units in the college workshop and I was pushing the cover back on, the lecturer asked why saying we still had some more testing to do in a few minutes, I nodded at the guy who was supposed to be working with me but wasn’t paying attention and was talking to a guy in the next booth and said I didn’t want him to get an electric shock. The lecturer smiled and said it probably was a good move.


    When the meter guys and DNO guys pull the main fuse there al live terminal in the fuse holder that is not shrouded, Just one of the dangers from pulling the main fuse.


    Even disconnecting a washing machine from the supply by unplugging it doesn’t make it electrically safe does it?


    Consumer units have live terminals when “isolated”.


    Owning and using a proving unit doesn’t mean the unwary  are safe.
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