Free Phone: 0800 485 990 (NZ)

Handy Testing Tips #2

avo-banner-htt

RCD Testing

The new Electricity Safety Regulations 2010 cite AS/NZS30000:2007 ‘Electrical Installations' as the standard for mandatory testing of electrical installations to comply with these new regs.

There is one exception to this where ESR2010 Regulation 24.3 states:

An RCD used to protect against electric shock, and that is either installed as part of an installation or is a portable RCD, is deemed to be electrically unsafe if it has a rated residual current exceeding 30 milliamperes and -

(a) it does not disconnect all live conductors within -

(i) 300 milliseconds when passing its rated residual current; or
(ii) 40 milliseconds when passing 5 times its rated residual current; or

(b) It disconnects all live conductors when passing leakage current at or below half its rated residual current; or

(c) It does not meet the limits specified in AS/NZS 3190.

These testing requirements negate the ‘push button test' option in AS/NZS 3000 as the push button test does not indicate the tripping time or the current the RCD trips at.

AS/NZS 3000:2007 Electrical Installations

Clause 8.3 TESTING: With the exception of the ‘push button test' clause 8.3.10.2 lists the mandatory test required to comply with the new regs.

Clause 8.3.2 lists AS/NZS 3017 as the standard for testing methods required to comply with AS/NZS 3000.

AS/NZS 3017:2007 Electrical Installations - Verification Guidelines

Clause 3.7 Operation of RCDs: Again, with the exception of the ‘push button test' clause 3.7.2.2 sets out the testing procedure for RCDs. This is the same testing procedure as required in Reg 24.3 of ESR2010.

For advise on the right tester for your application contact your electrical wholesaler or AVO NZ on 0800 485 990, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.avo.co.nz.