Polarity Testing

Stephen Albrecht
Safety & Training Manager
MainPower New Zealand Limited

EEA Safety Workshop 2010

1. Problem
2. Transposition Implications
3. Key Legislation
4. De-energised and live testing
5. Polarity Testing ABCs
1. Problem
Misconception about polarity testing
(when and how)
Root Cause Analysis
1. Why? Not well understood
2. Why? Misuse of terms
3. Why? Misunderstanding of legislation
4. Why? Legislation not clear
5. Why? Key terms not defined
6. Why? ???

2. Transposition Implications
• Switches & protective devices bypassed
• Neutral & earth conductors live
• Earthed metal live
• Damage to property / equipment
• Electric shock
• Investigation (Police, ES, DoL)
• Prosecution (Police, ES, DoL)
• Complaint to EWRB – disciplinary process
• Profound affect on families / practitioner
 Selection of Reported
Transpositions to Energy Safety
Date Voltage Equipment Type Event Type Causal Factor Referred
to EWRB
1 25-01-08 230 Distribution pillar Electric shock Failure to adequately test Yes

2 01-05-08 230 o/h service mains Electric shocks Failure to adequately test Yes

3 05-06-08 230 Mains to house Property damage Failure to adequately test Yes

4 26-06-08 230 Streetlight column Electric shocks Failure to test Yes

5 18-07-08 230 Revenue metering Electric shocks Failure to adequately test Yes

6 04-08-08 230 Revenue metering Electric shocks Failure to adequately test Yes

7 11-09-08 230 Mains entry box Electric shock Failure to adequately test Yes

8 06-01-09 230 o/h service mains Electric shock Failure to test Yes

9 29-05-09 400 u/g mains to school Property damage (fire) Failure to adequately test Yes

10 31-08-09 230 u/g service mains Electric shocks Failure to test Yes

11 17-12-09 230 Repair to mains cable Electric shock Failure to adequately test Yes

12 05-04-10 230 Mains entry box Electric shock (fatal) Failure to adequately test Yes

Auckland Fatality 5th April 2010

• 42-year-old homeowner tragically electrocuted while under house

investigating electrical issues
• Policeman received electric shock
• Police investigation
• DoL investigation
 Status
• ES filed two complaints with the EWRB registrar regarding
alleged transposition involving an electrician and an
electrical inspector
• EWRB Registrar recommended interim suspension of
practising licences due to serious nature of complaints
• EWRB placed interim suspension on practising licences of
electrician and electrical inspector
• EWRB reinstated practising licences following appeal
• Complaint progressing through EWRB disciplinary process
• Police still conducting investigation
• Possible man slaughter prosecution? Police (Crimes Act)
• Subject to Police outcome, ES may pursue prosecution
(public safety)

LV Installation with Correct Connections

POS
Works Installation
O/H POE MEN Switchboard
Transformer Fuse (Mains Entry Box)

Main/Sw CBs

Mains N-Bar

Link
E-Bar

The Point of Supply (POS) location

can vary (refer to new definition
s2(3) of the Electricity Act 1992) Earth Electrode
P N
Revenue metering and load control
equipment not shown E

Switched Socket
 LV Installation with Correct Connections
POS
Works Installation
O/H POE MEN Switchboard
Transformer Fuse (Mains Entry Box)
Main/Sw CBs
Mains Mains N-Bar
Link
E-Bar
The Point of Supply (POS) location
can vary (refer to new definition
s2(3) of the Electricity Act 1992) Earth Electrode
P N
Revenue metering and load control
equipment not shown E
Switched Socket
Result of Transposition at O/H Point of Entry
POS
Works Installation
O/H POE MEN Switchboard
Transformer Fuse (Mains Entry Box)
Main/Sw CBs
Mains Mains N-Bar
Link
E-Bar
Mains phase & neutral
transposed ! ! ! !
All neutral & earth Earth Electrode
conductors beyond P N
transposition point E
within installation now
become Live to touch! Switched Socket
 BUT WON’T THE FUSE BLOW?
POS
Works Installation
O/H POE MEN Switchboard
Transformer Fuse (Mains Entry Box)

Main/Sw CBs

Mains Mains N-Bar

Link
E-Bar

Mains phase & neutral

transposed ! ! ! !
All neutral & earth Earth Electrode
conductors beyond P N

transposition point E
within installation now
become Live to touch! Switched Socket

Typical Service Fuse Details

Fuse Fuse Fusing Fusing Maximum

Type Rating Factor Current Earth Loop
(Amps) (Amps) Impedance
at 240 Volts
(Ω
Ω)

Rewireable 60 2 120 2

HRC 63 1.5 94.5 2.5

 Typical values of Earth Fault Loop Impedance
and Fault Current at 240 Volts

Earth Fault Fault Current (Amps)

Loop Impedance (Ω
Ω) at 240 Volts
1 240
2 120
3 80
4 60
5 48
10 24
30 8
60 4
80 3
120 2
240 1
300 0.8
600 0.4
1,200 0.2

Socket Outlet Polarity Testing Insufficient

POS
Works Installation
O/H POE MEN Switchboard
Transformer Fuse (Mains Entry Box)

Main/Sw CBs

Mains Mains N-Bar

Link
E-Bar

Mains phase & neutral

transposed ! ! ! !
Limiting polarity testing Earth Electrode
to socket outlet only is P N

risky due to possibility E

of other transpositions
or problems Switched Socket
 3. Key Legislation
• Electricity Act 1992
• Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010
• Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992

Electricity Act and ESR administered in the

Ministry of Economic Development
MoU between DoL, ES, EWRB, PGDB
(information sharing and lead agency)

Key Legislation Terms Not Defined

connect disconnect reconnect isolate operate
connects disconnects reconnecting isolated operates
connected disconnected reconnection isolating operated
connecting disconnecting isolation operating
connection disconnection operation
connections

Document search of ESR on the word “connect” returns 161 instances.

“Connect” and “disconnect” widely misused, e.g. energy retailers
EWR Schedule 1 (PEW) gives clues, e.g. “operating” not PEW
The root word of these terms should be clearly defined to facilitate
interpretation of the Electricity Act and Electricity (Safety) Regulations.
Note that connect to a power supply is a fundamental trigger for various
requirements, i.e. testing, certification, inspection, and verifying safety.
• Note from clause 2(e) of Schedule 1 to the
Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, operating
works, installations, or appliances is not PEW.

• Switching is deemed to be operating. Therefore,

an activity such as the insertion of fuse carriers
to “liven” to a power supply does not constitute
"connecting" or "making a connection." Similarly,
the removal of fuse carriers to “isolate” the
supply of electricity does not constitute
“disconnecting” or “making a disconnection.”

Electricity Act 1992

Paraphrased Excerpts
S82 (Testing, certification, and inspection)
(1) Must not connect to a power supply unless the
testing required by regulations has been carried
out
(4) Can connect to power supply solely for testing
purposes

s143 (Disciplinary offence)

(1)(b) intentionally or negligently created a risk of
serious harm to any person, or a risk of
significant property damage

Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010

Paraphrased Excerpts
Reg 13 (Doing work on works, installations, fittings, and
appliances)

(1)(a) must ensure resulting work is electrically safe

(3) while doing the work (includes testing), ensure
people and property are protected from dangers
arising from the work

Reg 65 (Testing PEW work on LV installations)

(1) must be tested in accordance with AS/NZS 3000

Reg 73 (Verifying safety before connecting installations)

(1)(i) Before connecting a LV installation to a power
supply ensure that the polarity of the supply is
correct
Reg 38 (Testing works before connecting to supply)

(1) Before connecting to a power supply ensure

tests have been carried out that ensure
(a) completed new works are electrically safe
(b) maintenance of works has not reduced the safety
of the works
alterations or additions of works are electrically
safe

(2)(a) Before connecting works to a power supply ensure

that the polarity of the supply is correct

Live Testing Only

After all Connections
is Very Risky

Why, because if its wrong,

it might be too late!!
4. De-energised Polarity Testing
Methods (Extra Low Voltage)

1. Ohm-meter
2. Battery Phasing

Ohm-meter Method

Mains
Ohm-meter Method

Mains

Ohm-meter Method

Mains

Temporary Lead
 Ohm-meter Method

Mains

>999 MΩ
Ω

Temporary Lead

Ohm-meter Method

Mains

0.2 Ω

Temporary Lead
 Ohm-meter Method

Mains

0.2 Ω

Temporary Lead

Ohm-meter Method

Mains

>999 MΩ
Ω

Temporary Lead
 Ohm-meter Method

Mains

0.2 Ω

Temporary Lead

Ohm-meter Method

Mains

0.2 Ω

Temporary Lead
 Ohm-meter Method

Mains

Battery Phasing Method

Mains
Battery Phasing Method

Mains

Battery Phasing Method

+

Mains 9V
-
 Battery Phasing Method
+
Mains 9V
-

+9V

Battery Phasing Method

+

Mains 9V
-

-9V
 Battery Phasing Method
+
Mains 9V
-

+9V

Battery Phasing Method

+

Mains 9V
-

+9V
Battery Phasing Method

Mains

3-Leg Battery Phasing Unit

 3-Leg Battery Phasing Circuit

Advantages of 3-Leg Battery Phasing Circuit

1. Effective de-energised method for polarity testing prior to
connection and livening.

2. Practical alternative to using ohm-meter and separate temporary

lead. This is particularly useful where it is impractical to run
separate temporary lead, e.g. long circuit length.

3. Circuit is simple and uses readily available components.

4. Resistors prevent batteries discharging into short circuit,

e.g. earths at remote end.

5. Fuses provide limited protection for inadvertent livening.

6. Can be used on three-phase and single-phase systems.

7. Discrete polarised DC voltages facilitate polarity and phasing

determination.
 Discrete polarised DC voltages
Combination Voltage
Red – White + 3 Volts
White – Blue + 6 Volts
Red – Blue + 9 Volts

5. Live Polarity Testing Methods

1. Trailing lead polarity tester

2. Single point contact tester
3. Proximity tester
 Trailing Lead Polarity Tester

• Popular method
• Has limitations

Fluke T120 (High Impedance)

•Easy to read dual digital/LED display
•LED display ok to 23 kΩ loop impedance
•Digital display ok to 10 kΩ loop impedance Duspol (Low Impedance)
•Single point contact polarity function (battery) •Display accuracy drops
•Continuity function ≤ 2 kΩ (battery) significantly from approx
(Checks battery, buzzer, continuity of lead) 500 Ω loop impedance
Loop Resistance Impact on Polarity Tester
Supply Series Voltage Instrument Measurements (Volts)
Voltage Resistance Fluke Fluke T120 Unitest Duspol Duspol Duspol
(Thurlby (Ω
Ω) 7-600 LCD LED 2000α α Type S Round Round
Thandar) Display Indicator (LED) (Red) (Orange)
230 0 230 230 230 230 240 235 220
230 100 230 230 230 230 240 230 220
230 330 229 230 230 230 235 225 200
230 660 228 230 230 230 235 200 180
230 1,000 227 228 230 230 230 180 150
230 3,300 218 222 230 230 230 125 Below scale
230 6,600 206 213 230 230 210 Below scale Off scale
230 10,000 189 204 230 230 180 Below scale Off scale
230 15,000 170 190 230 230 150 Below scale Off scale
230 33,000 60 110 *120 *120 120 Off scale Off scale
230 66,000 20 50 50 50 Below scale Off scale Off scale
230 100,000 10 30 24 50 Below scale Off scale Off scale

Notes

Fluke T120
230 to 120 volt LED indicator transition was at 23,000 Ω
Battery removal resulted in no resitance measurement capability, single point polarity indication, and no light.
However, LCD and LED voltage indication still functioned.

Apparatus
Iskra 250 V, 5 A, 1φ Variac
Conway Electronic Enterprises 6 - Decade Resistance Box
Thurlby Thandar 1906 Computing Multimeter
Selection of voltage instruments as specified in above table

5-Step Polarity Testing Process

Step Action Testing Method

1 Verify polarity of work De-energised
2 Verify polarity of power supply Live
3 Connect work to power supply
4 Liven work
5 Verify polarity of livened work Live

power supply means supply of electricity

connect means to join (joint or terminate)

Polarity Testing
ABCs
ALWAYS
BEFORE
CONNECTIONS