[ Spotlight: Testing ]
Competitive edge Not surprisingly, manufacturers are doing all they can to attract contractors, and are using all their research and development know-how to introduce products that stand out from the crowd. Whether a device is being used for traditional
electrical wiring testing, portable appliance testing (PAT) or solar photovoltaic (PV) testing, well-defi ned selection criteria are required. Tony Kumeta, EMEA business unit manager – electrical, at Ideal Industries, advises: ‘The single most important aspect is matching the specifi cation to the application. Once the measurement requirements have been established, the contractor can then determine whether these can be met in one tester, or if a series of individual units is needed. The decision often comes down to what works most eff ectively for the individual.’ While functionality is crucial, ease of use, build
quality, safety and support all have to be balanced against what is often the dominating factor – cost. Peter O’Hara, commercial director at Martindale Electric, is under no illusion about how important this is. He says: ‘It’s generally a trade off in terms of matching functionality and convenience against price. It’s something that you can’t make general statements about, as it’s very specifi c to the individual user.’ However, cheaper products have their obvious
limitations. Jim Wallace, associate director at Seaward Group, warns: ‘Test equipment has to comply with all relevant standards and legislation, and should fulfi l a minimum requirement. However, basic testers tend to incorporate only the most fundamental safety checks, whilst more advance instruments can have advanced test capabilities, such as three phase testing and RCD testing alongside the conventional electrical tests.’ It is also important to be aware that test equipment is assigned a usage category, which is defi ned by IEC 61010-1:2010. This relates to the energy level of the transients that the instrument can withstand without exposing the user to the risk of harm. Any contractor whose work involves carrying out tests on mains circuits must, therefore, use an instrument that is fi t for purpose.
Practice makes perfect There is indisputable evidence that the regular testing of electrical equipment prevents injuries, saves lives and stops fi res from starting. November 2012 saw one of the biggest shake-ups to the PAT sector in recent years with the introduction of the 4th Edition of the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment. So, one year on, what impact has it had? According to Seaward’s Jim Wallace, it’s a
positive one, and he says: ‘It has reinforced the importance of risk assessments in determining any requirement for inspections and testing. In some cases, this has meant moving away from a simple cost-per-test service to a support-based off ering that includes electrical safety advisory, testing and record keeping. Our new Apollo 600 is
The single most important aspect is matching the specifi cation to the application
an example of a product that meets this change.’ However, companies that were already carrying out risk assessments for their customers have seen very little change, as they have always been aware that retesting should be based upon various factors including environment, equipment type and regularity of use. Megger’s Simon Wood states: ‘Most clients have continued to maintain a standard 12-month rotation, while larger fi rms have already adopted variable retest periods where appropriate. The clarity provided by the 4th Edition, although welcome, has not had a huge impact upon the industry, per se.’
Case study: Solar flair
Wind & Sun recently completed two new solar PV power installation projects on the islands of Muck and Eigg off the west coast of Scotland to meet the needs of the growing island communities. On the Isle of Muck, the newly installed power generation system
incorporates both wind turbines and solar PV, with diesel generator back up. As part of the island’s new 3.3kV 415V high voltage grid, the solar PV installation comprises a 12 string PV array of 132 REC Solar 250PE 250W modules with an output of 33kWp. On the Isle of Eigg, installation work was also recently completed on
an extension to the island’s existing solar PV generating capacity, with the addition of a new six string, 22.5kWp PV array using 90 REC 250PE 250Wp PV modules. Jim Wallace, associate director at the Seaward Group, explains: ‘In
both cases Wind & Sun carried out all irradiance testing and electrical commissioning work on the new solar PV systems with the latest Seaward Solarlink PV test kit, to ensure compliance with the required MCS and MIS standards. The Solarlink PV kit combines the comprehensive electrical testing and data logging capabilities of the PV150 hand held solar tester with the advanced Solar Survey 200R multifunction PV survey meter.’
Solar PV system testing using Seaward’s
Solarlink PV test kit
December 2013 ECA Today 49
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