Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Testing an exisitng installation without power

  1. #1
    Diamond Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    planet earth
    Posts
    3,943
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 317 Times in 287 Posts

    Testing an exisitng installation without power

    I have just completed an inspection report for an installation which had no power.

    The transfer for the property is ready, just waiting for the COC. What is the proceedure if there was no power at the time of test and will not be power unltil the new owner has the power reconnected.

    Do i have to go back and complete the tests, or do i just indicate on the COC that there was no power at the time of test.

  2. #2
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,649
    Thanks
    3,305
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    We will not under any circumstances issue a COC until we have tested the installation under power.

  3. #3
    Diamond Member AndyD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    4,923
    Thanks
    576
    Thanked 934 Times in 755 Posts
    Yep we wouldn't CoC a full premises without power either, there's too many tests that can't be performed, you can't declare the place compliant if you can't test the earth leakage and the means of isolation for example. We've had buildings without power before and issued CoC's for certain minor additional work and a couple of times where we've installed a builders trailing power boxes after isolating a DB during construction work for example.
    _______________________________________________

    _______________________________________________

  4. #4
    Diamond Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    planet earth
    Posts
    3,943
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 317 Times in 287 Posts
    The building will not have power on until the new owners takes over. So its a bit of a catch situation, no power, no COC, no transfer.

  5. #5
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,649
    Thanks
    3,305
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Is it switched off at the meter, or has the municipality removed the supply cables to the meter?

  6. #6
    Diamond Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    planet earth
    Posts
    3,943
    Thanks
    153
    Thanked 317 Times in 287 Posts
    The jumpers have been removed, i hope you note thinking that i should bypass the meter and connect the cable to the main DB diretly to the circuit breaker, for testing purposes, now that would be against the law

  7. #7
    Diamond Member AndyD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    4,923
    Thanks
    576
    Thanked 934 Times in 755 Posts
    Phone the inspector and explain the predicament. He can give you permission to reinstated power and isolate again after the CoC testing.
    _______________________________________________

    _______________________________________________

  8. #8
    Site Caretaker Dave A's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Durban, South Africa
    Posts
    22,649
    Thanks
    3,305
    Thanked 2,676 Times in 2,257 Posts
    Blog Entries
    12
    Quote Originally Posted by ians View Post
    The jumpers have been removed


    Quote Originally Posted by AndyD View Post
    Phone the inspector and explain the predicament. He can give you permission to reinstated power and isolate again after the CoC testing.
    Yeah - that's the problem. In terms of the standing arrangement we have with the Ethekwini Electricity Department we can flip on and flip off as long as we take meter readings before and after, but if they've removed the jumpers it's code to sparkies "do not touch because there's a serious problem with this account".

    Ian - they're not going to get their rates clearance anyway until the account is resolved, so you shouldn't be holding up the sale if you stick to your guns and insist the supply is connected before you can issue the CoC. We've had to do it more than a few times and in a twisted way the conveyancers prefer it - it gives them more leverage to get the utlities account issue resolved sooner rather than later.

  9. #9
    Gold Member Sparks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Port Elizabeth
    Posts
    890
    Thanks
    20
    Thanked 127 Times in 96 Posts
    Quote Originally Posted by AndyD View Post
    Phone the inspector and explain the predicament. He can give you permission to reinstated power and isolate again after the CoC testing.
    Standing arrangement with our municipality. Done it so many times & it uses so little to do the tests that I do not even bother them anymore unless there is a seal on the Isolator.

  10. #10
    Diamond Member AndyD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Cape Town
    Posts
    4,923
    Thanks
    576
    Thanked 934 Times in 755 Posts
    I would also agree normally and we've never been requested to take meter readings. The difference in this case was that the meter tails had been removed and there's several reasons they may have done this other than non-payment. If the tails were entirely removed I would contact the local electrical inspector for a reason.
    _______________________________________________

    _______________________________________________

Similar Threads

  1. The value of split-testing
    By Norri in forum Marketing Forum
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 22-Jun-12, 02:18 PM
  2. Testing with a neon
    By AndyD in forum Electrical Contracting Industry Forum
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 26-Feb-11, 11:46 PM
  3. Testing youtube
    By SilverNodashi in forum Administrative issues
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 25-May-08, 07:31 PM

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Did you like this article? Share it with your favourite social network.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •