PAT Testing 3 phase to 13amp adapter leads

[Buzz1980]

Hi

Hope anyone can help

Can someone give me advice on how to connect up a 3 phase to 13amp adaptor lead for carrying out PAT testing on 3 phase equipment but using a 13amp port on the PAT tester. Need to know the connections for

4 pin 3phase & earth plug to 13amp plug
5 pin 3phase & neutral & earth to 13 amp plug

Advice will be much appreciated

Thanks in advance

 

[cireland]

What three phase equipment is portable?

 

[Buzz1980]

3 phase welding machines are portable.

 

[westward10]

The ready made ones you can purchase have the earth connected at both ends and the neutral connected at both ends. The lives however are linked out at the three phase end, L1, L2 and L3 but the live from the 13A is not connected and this is done for safety but to me it doesn't matter if it is connected as you are using them for test purposes.

 

[cireland]

https://www.tester.co.uk/specialist-adapter-kit-for-testing-415v-appliances?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIisGsgtiv-gIVSsiUCR0OTwU9EAQYASABEgJ2FPD_BwE.

These any use?

 

[Buzz1980]

Hi thanks for the replies lads, it was to save buying the test kit adapters as we have spare plugs etc at our yard. So is the below correct.

4 pin - 3 phase and earth
3phase plug side - earth to earth connection , neutral to L1 and link around to L3. Don’t connect the live into 3 phase plug.
13amp plug side - earth to earth connection, neutral to neutral connection and don’t connect the live at 13amp plug side.

5 pin - 3 phase / neutral and earth
3 phase plug side - earth to earth connection , neutral to neutral connection , live to L1 and link around to L3.
13 amp plug side earth to earth connection , neutral to neutral connection and don’t connect live to 13amp plug side.

So when the IR test is carried out from the PAT tester it will go down the neutral conductor and able to check against each phase to earth as they are all linked out. Reason they don’t connect the live is due to if anyone try’s to use this for a power supply and blows the fuses as it will be a dead short. Is this correct ? Thanks

 

[cireland]

Seems about right.
With the line not connected I would give it a try and see what happens.
You could also short the lines to earth at the socket to make sure it reads it correctly.

 

[Avo Mk8]

There was a discussion on this topic here years ago- worth reading past the first few posts.

3 phase PAT adaptors

Anybody out there still need info on 3 phase PAT adaptors?

www.electriciansforums.net

 

[Buzz1980]

That’s great thanks for the link, so that’s right in what I am saying then don’t connect the live conductor only the neutral conductor at both ends of the lead and link thr neutral around the phases ? The IR test will go down the neutral conductor and will pick any leakage to earth on the phases as they are all connected together ?

 

[Avo Mk8]

That’s great thanks for the link, so that’s right in what I am saying then don’t connect the live conductor only the neutral conductor at both ends of the lead and link thr neutral around the phases ? The IR test will go down the neutral conductor and will pick any leakage to earth on the phases as they are all connected together ?

What you describe appears the safest way to construct the adapter lead, but only works on the basis your particular tester does effectively connect L and N together to do the test. I think it would be worth checking on your tester with a high value resistor or a faulty appliance that an IR fault on N only is detected - it surely would be? Otherwise you will be passing everything you test!