IR test on lighting circuits

Wonderwall · Feb 12, 2018

whilst carrying out EICR I usually find it near impossible to disconnect all loads ( on lighting especially) I there fore only carry out IR on Line and neutral to Earth.
However, when I see most other certs, they claim to have recieved 299 ohms on live to neutral?
Am I missing a trick, or am I just being honest . How do you guys get round this , or do you do as I do?
Thanks for any advice

ackbarthestar · Feb 12, 2018

Perhaps too honest. Calculate the time available to you to perform a EICR and you'll find that it is unlikely that you'll be given more that 4 hours to test and report on a standard 2-4 bedroom house.
Now ask yourself, what are the most important areas to test for to be assured that the electrical installation is safe to continue to be used.
Also, remember that its not to anybody's advantage to start disconnecting accessories which then have to be reconnected again.
Its usually sufficient to IR test between PE and L/N connected., polarity, EFL, and PFC, RCD, RCBO

Strima · Feb 12, 2018

Probably copy and paste.

ackbarthestar · Feb 12, 2018

The proformers are generally designed to be over complicated and get you to do unnecessary tests.. Notice that there is no mention of measuring the MPB but you might be expected to measure R1 and R2 of a final circuit which is unnecessary as you will check it when loop testing.
The best test instruments for basic anomalies are your eyes, ears, nose and touch..

Wonderwall · Feb 12, 2018

So, as I thought, most folk are obviously not being honest on their forms, which then leads you to think what other false readings are they putting down?
Surely better to be honest ?
Thanks for the help , a lot of good people on this site .

Baker1988 · Feb 12, 2018

To be honest mate if that is the only thing they lie on its not to bad. I was at my sister's before just on the computer with my nephew and her landlord sent a sparky round to do a eicr and he was there maby 40 minutes and it was suppose to be a 100% test and inspect and there was no way he tested every thing as he did not even come in the front room and the tele and xbox did not even turn off so he obviously didnt do dead test on the ring or test the rcd as the tele would of gone off.

Wonderwall · Feb 12, 2018

Baker1988 said:
To be honest mate if that is the only thing they lie on its not to bad. I was at my sister's before just on the computer with my nephew and her landlord sent a sparky round to do a eicr and he was there maby 40 minutes and it was suppose to be a 100% test and inspect and there was no way he tested every thing as he did not even come in the front room and the tele and xbox did not even turn off so he obviously didnt do dead test on the ring or test the rcd as the tele would of gone off.

40 mins!!!
It takes me 40 minutes to get set up and take the client details and readings from the supply!!!
My friend also had EICR done through a letting agent , 8 circuits , the guy was there an hour!
I'm either really slow, or too thorough, or maybe both!!

buzzlightyear · Feb 12, 2018

Wonderwall said:
My friend also had EICR done through a letting agent , 8 circuits , the guy was there an hour!

what sitting in the toilet !

Highresdis · Feb 12, 2018

One method I've used is to switch off all the lights, test live neutral, live earth, and neutral earth, and then go round, switch the switches on, and test between live and earth again. When the circuit is looped through the light fittings, this seems to cover all the insulation to be tested.

buzzlightyear · Feb 12, 2018

full test 3 bed room house approx. 3-4 hours. and depends on the c/u.

charlie76 · Feb 13, 2018

buzzlightyear said:
full test 3 bed room house approx. 3-4 hours. and depends on the c/u.

Is that just the testing?

Deleted member 26818 · Feb 13, 2018

Not sure why, but there does seem to be a mentality that all the boxes on a schedule have to be filled.
Personally, if I don’t conduct a test, I don’t fill in the box saying I have done.

willy fixit · Feb 13, 2018

My get out is the magic N/V plus a note to explain why this is. Usually "inaccessible" Last one I did had 6 x 6ft double fluorescents on a 15ft ceiling in wire cages... defo inaccessible.

Pete999 · Feb 13, 2018

ackbarthestar said:
The are generally designed to be over complicated and get you to do unnecessary tests.. Notice that there is no mention of measuring the MPB but you might be expected to measure R1 and R2 of a final circuit which is unnecessary as you will check it when loop testing.
The best test instruments for basic anomalies are your eyes, ears, nose and touch..

Deleted

elsparko · Feb 15, 2018

its hard to guess at really, 1 bedroom flat i did yesterday had 13 circuits, alot of 1 beds ive done have been 4 or 5 circuits

could also be a storage heater board which can be a pain if its not marked properly

just do as you do, l/n - e , then l - e , if both pass then all 3 outcomes have been covered

Toneyz · Feb 22, 2018

ackbarthestar said:
The proformers are generally designed to be over complicated and get you to do unnecessary tests.. Notice that there is no mention of measuring the MPB but you might be expected to measure R1 and R2 of a final circuit which is unnecessary as you will check it when loop testing.
The best test instruments for basic anomalies are your eyes, ears, nose and touch..

How are you proving R1 +R2 100% when you are doing a loop test?

Judd · Feb 22, 2018

I usually just note on limitations, L-N I/R omitted to protect voltage sensitive equipment.

IR test on lighting circuits

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