Combined L&N IR test on all RCBO board

[maguire]

Hi
Carrying out a whole board insulation resistance test , very large house and LOTS of vulnerable equipment so wish to do a L&N combined [ link busbar to neutral bar] on whole board. Each circuit is on a RCBO , how would i test this, do the neutral and earth fly leads of each RCBO need to be disconnected?
Thanks in advance

 

[Farmelectrics]

no link neutral bar to bus bar and ir to earh its called a global test personally i like to do individual circuts but its your shout

 

[Fin170]

Most RCBOs don't like their circuitry blasted with 500v, best test them at 250v individually

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Most RCBOs don't like their circuitry blasted with 500v, best test them at 250v individually

RCD's, RCBO's shouldn't be IR tested, read the manufacturers instructions.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Hi
Carrying out a whole board insulation resistance test , very large house and LOTS of vulnerable equipment so wish to do a L&N combined [ link busbar to neutral bar] on whole board. Each circuit is on a RCBO , how would i test this, do the neutral and earth fly leads of each RCBO need to be disconnected?
Thanks in advance

When you say Vulnerable equipment, i hope you have accounted for any dimmer switches, and removed them. Dimmers are (or should be) in the line conductor only, and no matter which test method you use, if they are in circuit, you WILL kill them.

Cheers...........Howard

 

[Octopus]

Hi
Carrying out a whole board insulation resistance test , very large house and LOTS of vulnerable equipment so wish to do a L&N combined [ link busbar to neutral bar] on whole board. Each circuit is on a RCBO , how would i test this, do the neutral and earth fly leads of each RCBO need to be disconnected?
Thanks in advance

Disconnect L & N from each RCBO, link and then test to earth.

 

[HandySparks]

Dimmers are (or should be) in the line conductor only, and no matter which test method you use, if they are in circuit, you WILL kill them.

No, you won't kill them if you're testing L+N to E. I never have. If they have the same potential on input and output, which they will if L and N are connected together, then no problem.

 

[lauriehurman]

They can only have the same potential on either side if you've bridged across the lamp?
Laurie

No, you won't kill them if you're testing L+N to E. I never have. If they have the same potential on input and output, which they will if L and N are connected together, then no problem.

 

[Farmelectrics]

you can ir through rcds and rcbos if its 230v well thats what i was shown

 

[HandySparks]

They can only have the same potential on either side if you've bridged across the lamp?
Laurie

If you leave the lamps in (no reason to remove them if testing L+N to E) then, since there's no significant current through the lamp when doing an IR test, the voltage on either side of the dimmer will be the same. This will apply in the case of standard GLS and halogen lamps, but may not be true for other types.

 

[tony mc]

I think you wll be scratching your head with the results if you test with the RCBO left connected even with L/N connected together.

 

[electric will]

I think you wll be scratching your head with the results if you test with the RCBO left connected even with L/N connected together.

Why not whip the earth lead out the earth bar for the rcbo?

 

[tony mc]

Which ever way you want to test is fine but with RCBO's and RCDSO you are far better removing the L & N from the units and then test.

The electronic internals are not compatible with IR testing even if it is fitted with a fly lead.

Post 4 answered the question IMO !

 

[Flakey]

Which ever way you want to test is fine but with RCBO's and RCDSO you are far better removing the L & N from the units and then test.

The electronic internals are not compatible with IR testing even if it is fitted with a fly lead.

Post 4 answered the question IMO !

I Agree !

 

[jibjob]

Going with post 4 too. Test each ct individually, it might take longer but at least you don't risk damaging the RCBO and having to replace it (pricey). Same goes for dimmers, if you ain't confident that they can withstand test take then out of circuit. I always IR at 250v on existing circuits & them ramp it up to 500v providing I don't get any unusually low readings.