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IN SERVICE INSPECTION
AND TESTING OF
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
THE INSULATION TEST by John Ware
Sequence of testing
The sequence of inspection and testing of
electrical equipment such as a portable
appliance should always be
1 Visual inspection
2 Earth continuity test, for Class I
equipment
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fuses in the equipment to be tested should requirements above, such as where metal
be checked and power switches put in the sheathed mineral-insulated heating
‘on’ position. All covers should be in place. elements are used. It may be necessary in
The test is carried out between live some cases to switch on the appliance for a
conductors, i.e. phase and neutral, period of time to drive off absorbed
connected together and the body of the moisture before commencing testing.
appliance. Additionally the touch current
The applied test voltage should be measurement test may be carried out.
approximately 500 V d.c. The test
instrument should be capable of Three-phase equipment. For 3-phase
maintaining this test voltage with a load equipment, all three phases and neutral (if
resistance of 0.5 megohm. Insulation applicable) are to be linked together whilst
resistance readings obtained should be not making this test.
less than the values shown in Table 1
above. Equipment with filter networks. Some
When testing insulation resistance on a equipment may have filter networks or
Class II appliance the test probe should be transient suppression devices which could
connected to any metal parts or suspect cause the insulation resistance to be less
joints in the enclosure where conductive than specified. The manufacturer or
material may have accumulated. This may supplier is to be consulted in these cases
require multiple tests. as to the acceptable value of measured
insulation resistance. A protective
Heating and cooking appliances. Certain conductor and/or touch current test
Figure 4: Performing In Service
heating and cooking appliances may be should be performed in addition to the
insulation test.
Inspection and Testing?
unable to meet the insulation resistance These three publications will help.