Technical Archives - Professional Electrician https://professional-electrician.com/category/technical/ the latest news, products, tools and info for UK electricians Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:38:17 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 How to record the details of protective devices on the ‘Schedule of circuit details’ https://professional-electrician.com/technical/how-to-record-the-details-of-protective-devices-on-the-schedule-of-circuit-details/ Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:00:17 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49936 How to record the details of protective devices on the ‘Schedule of circuit details’

A number of protective devices are now available which perform more than one function, such as Residual Current operated Circuit-Breakers with integral Overcurrent protection (RCBO), and combination RCBO and Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDD). The model ‘Schedule of circuit details’ in Appendix 6 of BS 7671 asks for a number of key functional characteristics of ...

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Codebreakers #91 https://professional-electrician.com/technical/codebreakers-91/ Tue, 11 Feb 2025 08:00:18 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49831 Codebreakers #91

Need help with cracking those EICR codes? The technical team at NAPIT, with the help of the 18th Edition Codebreakers publication, answer your latest coding queries. Click on the photos for a closer look! JEFFERY CASE: THOSE GOOD OLD PLUMBERS…! At times, it can seem to be the case that the electricians are seen as ...

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Why is the arc flash boundary so important? https://professional-electrician.com/technical/why-is-the-arc-flash-boundary-so-important/ Mon, 10 Feb 2025 08:00:24 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49899 Why is the arc flash boundary so important?

In this article the experts at Fluke discuss the importance of the arc flash boundary and the ways in which professionals can better ensure that arc flash incidents are kept to a minimum. The arc flash boundary is the minimum “safe” distance from exposed energised conductors or circuit parts that has the potential for an ...

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Made 2 Measure: Is there a simple and reliable way of filling in electrical installation test certificates? https://professional-electrician.com/technical/made-2-measure-is-there-a-simple-and-reliable-way-of-filling-in-electrical-installation-test-certificates/ Thu, 06 Feb 2025 08:00:05 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49911 Made 2 Measure: Is there a simple and reliable way of filling in electrical installation test certificates?

Working on your own? Need some technical advice? Don’t know where to turn? The technical team at Megger answers the latest technical query from end users. YOU ASK: WHEN I’M TESTING ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS, I HATE FILLING IN TEST CERTIFICATES BY HAND. IT TAKES AGES AND IT’S EASY TO MAKE MISTAKES. IS THERE A SIMPLER AND ...

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How to fix PV arrays to on-roof solar photovoltaics (PV) systems https://professional-electrician.com/technical/how-to-fix-pv-arrays-to-on-roof-solar-photovoltaics-pv-systems/ Wed, 05 Feb 2025 08:00:52 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49925 How to fix PV arrays to on-roof solar photovoltaics (PV) systems

Steve Humphreys, Technical Commercial Manager at NAPIT, provides a guide on how to fix PV arrays to on-roof solar photovoltaics systems. In this article, we will look at a simplified wind uplift calculation to determine how any fixings would be required for the array mounting system. One of the most important aspects of installing a ...

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What are the problems associated with inferior quality connector products? https://professional-electrician.com/technical/what-are-the-problems-associated-with-inferior-quality-connector-products/ Wed, 29 Jan 2025 08:00:49 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49507 What are the problems associated with inferior quality connector products?

Jake Green, Head of Technical Engagement with Scolmore Group, looks at some of the problems associated with inferior quality connector products which don’t meet the required standards and therefore could represent a safety hazard. Connectors are a method of joining one conductor to another and are capable of passing larger currents and voltages. A poor ...

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Codebreakers #90 https://professional-electrician.com/technical/codebreakers-90/ Tue, 28 Jan 2025 08:00:59 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49503 Codebreakers #90

Need help with cracking those EICR codes? The technical team at NAPIT, with the help of the 18th Edition Codebreakers publication, answer your latest coding queries. Click on the photos for a closer look! STEVEN DOBSON: THIS WAS FOUND ON A RECENT EICR – I’D IMAGINE THAT ISOLATING WILL BE A PROBLEM! ONE OF THE ...

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How can earth electrode resistance be improved as part of a planned approach to installation? https://professional-electrician.com/technical/how-can-earth-electrode-resistance-be-improved-as-part-of-a-planned-approach-to-installation/ Wed, 22 Jan 2025 08:00:19 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49545 How can earth electrode resistance be improved as part of a planned approach to installation?

It can be difficult for an electrical contractor to determine whether a single electrode will be sufficient to be able to gain an adequate value of resistance prior to its installation and test. Here, Jake Green Head of Technical Engagement, Scolmore Group (owners of the Unicrimp brand) looks at how the earth electrode resistance might ...

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The practice of unfused spurs off a ring final circuit https://professional-electrician.com/technical/the-practice-of-unfused-spurs-off-a-ring-final-circuit/ Wed, 15 Jan 2025 08:00:04 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49529 The practice of unfused spurs off a ring final circuit

BS 7671 permits an unfused spur (or cable branch) from a 30 A or 32 A ring final circuit supplying accessories conforming to the relevant part(s) of the BS 1363 series to be wired with thermoplastic (PVC) or thermosetting insulated copper line and neutral conductors of cross-sectional area as small as 2.5 mm² (433.1.204) where ...

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Made 2 Measure: How can i speed up the process of testing the internal RDC device for an EV chargepoint? https://professional-electrician.com/technical/made-2-measure-how-can-i-speed-up-the-process-of-testing-the-internal-rdc-device-for-an-ev-chargepoint/ Mon, 13 Jan 2025 08:00:58 +0000 https://professional-electrician.com/?p=49571 Made 2 Measure: How can i speed up the process of testing the internal RDC device for an EV chargepoint?

Working on your own? Need some technical advice? Don’t know where to turn? The technical team at Megger answers the latest technical query from end users. YOU ASK: I HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF EV CHARGEPOINTS THAT REQUIRE THE INTERNAL RDC DEVICE TO BE TESTED ONLY – NOT THE INCOMING RCD PROTECTION. IS THERE A ...

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