Carrying out functional tests on electrical equipment
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out functional tests on electrical equipment, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to carry out pre-test inspections and tests of equipment such as electrical rotating, wound or power control/management equipment, to establish that it is functioning at optimal level and to specification. You will be required to select and use a range of electrical test instruments to ensure that the equipment is operating within the defined limits.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the testing activities undertaken and to report any problems with these activities or with the tools and equipment used that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a sound understanding of your work and will provide an informed approach to applying test procedures to electrical equipment and circuits. You will understand the equipment being worked on, the test equipment to be used and the various test procedures, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification. In addition, you will be expected to review the outcome of the tests, to compare the results with appropriate standards, to determine the action required and to record and report the results in the appropriate format.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the inspection and testing activities, especially those for isolating the equipment. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand your responsibility for taking the necessary safeguards to protect yourself and others against direct and indirect electric shock.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, directives and other relevant guidelines
- follow the appropriate procedures for use of tools and equipment to carry out the required tests
- select and obtain tools, equipment and materials for the tests
- carry out the tests using the correct procedures and within agreed timescales
- record the results of the tests in the appropriate format
- review the results and carry out further tests if necessary
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
- ensure that work records are completed, stored securely and available to others, as per organisational requirements
- leave the work area in a safe condition on completion of the activities, as per organisational and legal requirements
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions to be taken whilst carrying out the activities (including any specific legislation, regulations or codes of practice relating to the activities, equipment or materials)
- the health and safety requirements of the work area and the activities, and the responsibility these requirements place on you
- the hazards associated with the activities, and how to minimise them and reduce risks
- the personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE) to be worn during the activities
- voltage ranges, what constitutes a hazardous voltage and how to reduce the risks of a phase to earth shock
- how to recognise and deal with victims of electrical shock (to include methods of safely isolating the power source and methods of first aid resuscitation)
- how to obtain and interpret drawings, circuit and physical layouts, charts, specifications, manufacturers' manuals, history/maintenance reports, graphical electrical symbols, wiring regulations and other documents needed for the testing activities
- the principles of operation for the electrical equipment being tested
- the types of test equipment to be used and their selection for particular types of tests
- how to ensure that the test equipment is maintained and correctly calibrated, in accordance with the appropriate organisational procedures
- how to connect the appropriate test equipment (such as for the measurement of resistance, current, voltage, power, capacitance, inductance, frequency, power factor and protective device disconnection/trip times)
- the various testing methods and procedures, as recommended in approved electrical codes of practice and how to apply them to different operating conditions
- how to display/record test results
- how to interpret the value and significance of the test readings
- how to analyse test results, using tables in approved electrical codes of practice and how to use comparison and sequential techniques
- the importance of ensuring that test equipment is used only for its intended purpose and within its specified range and limits
- problems or errors that could occur which may affect the test results and how they can be avoided
- the environmental control and company operating procedures relating to the testing activities
- the extent of your own authority and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
- how to access, use and maintain information to comply with organisational requirements and legislation
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Carry out all of the following during the testing activities:
- use the correct issue of company and/or manufacturers' drawings and testing documentation
- adhere to health and safety regulations, systems and procedures to realise a safe system of work the use of grounded wrist straps and other electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions, as appropriate
- check that test equipment is correctly calibrated and appropriate for the tests to be carried out
- provide safe access and working arrangements for the testing area
- carry out pre-test inspection, using appropriate techniques and procedures
- operate test equipment within its specification range
- dispose of waste items in a safe and environmentally acceptable manner
- leave the work area in a safe and tidy condition
Carry out functional tests on one of the following types of electrical equipment:
- rotating equipment (such as single/three-phase motors, alternators)
- wound equipment (such as large transformers/inductors)
- control equipment (such as switchgear, distribution, power management)
Carry out functional tests using four of the following tools and test equipment:
- multimeter
- oscilloscope
- residual current device (RCD) tester
- ohmmeter
- insulation resistance tester
- portable appliance tester (PAT)
- ammeter
- loop impedance tester
- flash tester
- voltmeter
- current injection tester
- specialist test equipment (such as paint thickness meter, EMC meter)
Use the test equipment to measure and check five of the following:
- protective resistance values
- power rating
- power factor
- insulation resistance values
- resistance
- safety device trip speed
- current levels
- capacitance
- specialised tests (such as speed, sound levels, temperature, interference)
- voltage detection/levels
- inductance
- earth continuity
- frequency values
Check that the equipment being tested meets one of the following quality and accuracy standards:
- current industry standards, codes of practice and procedures
- company standards and procedures
- customer standards and requirements
- specific system requirements
- other international standards