ELECTRICAL INSPECTION AND TESTING

ELECTRICAL INSPECTION AND  TESTING

The integrity of electrical installation and component testing is often overlook for most commercial and residential installations around here because such are yet to be placed priority on by the electrical regulation authority and most service providers found it unnecessary because of time consumption since some are supposed to be done periodically.

Nevertheless, because this is our passion, our profession and also the standard was of delivering the services, it is worthy talking about so that those that have been executing jobs and does not actually recognize the real importance would amend their methods.

Inspection and testing is the most critical part of any electrical job because electricity is a foe which needs to be carefully handled following the lay down rules, regulations, and procedures.

Quality installation is the desire of all electrical contractor and safety, occupational health requirement and adhering to standard must be the priority in order to provide a safe installation at all time.

Inspections are conducted to compare the physical installation and components to the design vis-à-vis statutory requirements.

Testing are majorly done in order to confirm the integrity of component, and installation prior to usage, before being energized and on duty.

Inspection and testing is never complete until proper documentation is done and all actions are closed

BASIC ELECTRICAL TESTING

• Continuity test
• Resistance test
• Insulation resistance test
• Earth community test
• Polarity test
• Leakage test
• Visual inspection

Safety Instruction:

Always unplug the device or turn off the main circuit breaker before attempting a continuity test. Ensure that all capacitors are safely discharged.

CONTINUITY TEST

Continuity is the presence of a complete path for current flow. A closed switch that is operational, for example, has continuity. A continuity test is a quick check to see if a circuit is open or closed. Only a closed, complete circuit (one that is switched ON) has continuity. During a continuity test, a digital multimeter sends a small current through the circuit to measure resistance in the circuit. A meter with a continuity beeper briefly sounds off when it detects a closed circuit. The level of resistance needed to trigger the beeper varies by meter, but most will indicate continuity with a measurement between 0-50 ohms.

Continuity testing Iis carried out to determines the following:

• If a fuse is good or blown.
• If conductors are open or shorted.
• If switches are operating properly.
• If circuit paths are clear (accomplished by circuit or conductor tracing).

Caution: Continuity testing should be attempted only when voltage is NOT present in the circuit being tested.