Experiment No 9

Experiment No 9
House Electrical Wiring Tests

Objective
To learn about different types of house wiring test
Perform these tests on prototype of house
Apparatus
1. House wiring prototype
2. Megger
3. Connecting wires
4. Light bulb
Theory
All new completed electrical installation should be tested before connection to the supply, to
ensure that the installation is technically sound and free from any possible short circuits, etc. the
main reasons, to test a new electrical installation or house wiring before it is switched on to the
mains are as follows:
1. To know the cause of failure of a particular circuit or circuits or equipment and to locate
the exact position of break down.
2. To ensure that it is free from faults and is as per electricity rules.
3. These tests will receive the attention of the owner before any possible undue damage
occurs.
The tests should be made on a new electrical installation before it is switched on to the mains are
as under:
1. Insulation resistance test between installation and earth. (Leakage current test)
2. Insulation resistance test between conductors. (Short circuit test)
3. Testing of polarity. (Polarity test)
4. Testing of continuity of paths (Open circuit test).
Circuit diagram
“Circuit diagrams are shown separately for each test in Procedure section”
Procedure
1. Insulation Resistance Test between Installation and Earth
This test is performed to know the standard of insulation of wires and cables used in the
installation.
It also ensures that the insulation is sufficient enough to avoid any possible leakage of current to
earth.
The leakage of the current to earth should not exceed 0.02% of the full load current.
Before performing insulation resistance test between installation and earth the conditions to be
fulfilled for the position of the main switch, fuses, switches, and other points should be as under:
• main switch in OFF position,
• fuses beyond the main switch should be in position,
• all switches in ON position.
• all lamps and other equipment should be in their position.
For testing the whole installation, the test is conducted on the main switch. A testing set known as
megger is used for the test. It is a special form of the ohmmeter.
To perform this test, the phase and the neutral is short-circuited temporarily at any suitable point
as shown in Figure.
Figure 1 Leakage current test
The ‘L’ (line terminal) of the megger is connected to the short circuit point in the main switch and
the earth terminal marked (E) is connected to earth continuity conductor or some good earth point
near-by.
The handle of the tester is turned at a high speed so that sufficient testing voltage is produced. The
reading on the dial of the megger is noted.
The insulation resistance thus measured should not be less than 0.5 MΩ on a firm, sound and fixed
wiring.
If the insulation resistance is below this value, the wiring section giving that value should be
rewired or checked thoroughly until the required value is obtained.
2. Insulation resistance test between conductors.
To ensure that the insulation of the cables or wires is not damaged and there is no leakage between
them, this test is performed.
Before performing this test, the position of the main switch, fuses, switches, etc. should be as
under:
• all switches in ON position,
• all lamps and other appliances should be removed,
• fuses beyond the main switch should be in position.
Figure 2 Short circuit test
The line terminal of the megger is connected to phase terminal of the installation and the earth
terminal of megger is connected to neutral wire.
The insulation resistance so measured should not be less than 0.5 MΩ
3. Testing of polarity.
In a low voltage installation, this test is performed to verify that all single pole switches have been
connected to phase wire throughout the installation.
It is very necessary to place all switches on phase so that when a switch is made OFF, the connected
appliance is quite dead.
If the switch is connected to the neutral wire, then the connected appliance will get phase even if
the switch is in OFF position and remain alive.
There is absolutely no difference in the functioning of the switch in either case, but from the safety
point of view to avoid shock, etc. the phase should always be given through the switch and neutral
direct to the point.
The simple method of conducting the polarity test is by using a test lamp.
under:
• main switch in ON position,
• all switches in OFF position,
• all lamps and other appliances should be removed.
Figure 3 Polarity test
One end of the test lamp is connected to earth wire and the other end to the incoming terminal of
the switch.
If the lamp lights, it indicates that the switch is connected to phase wire, otherwise to neutral wire.
4. Testing of continuity of paths.
In house wiring this test is performed to check the continuity of wires whether they are open or
correct.
under:
• all switches in ON position,
• all lamps and other appliances should be in position.
Connect one terminal of megger to phase wire and other terminal to neutral wire, if it shows zero
resistance, it means there is no fault in main line. If it shows infinite (Mega Ohm) resistance then
it means main line is open circuited and needs to be corrected.
If there is no fault in main line proceed further for individual line fault.
• all switches in OFF position except one which you are checking,
• all lamps and other appliances should be in position.
Connect one terminal of megger to phase wire and other terminal to neutral wire, if it shows zero
resistance, it means there is no fault in that particular line. If it shows infinite (Mega Ohm)
resistance then it means that particular line is open circuited and needs to be corrected. Proceed to
perform test on next switch and repeat the process.
Figure 4 Open circuit test
Conclusion
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Experiment No 9

House Electrical Wiring Tests

Figure 1 Leakage current test

Figure 2 Short circuit test

Figure 3 Polarity test

Figure 4 Open circuit test

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