Smarter technology boosts choice

Innovation in electrical test and measurement instrumentation has increased the choice of testers available to wholesalers and contractors, says Jim Wallace of Seaward.  The challenge for all electrical contractors, particularly during difficult economic times, is to balance the provision of efficient, high quality safety testing and installation services with a competitive price tag and value for money offering.

In recent years the use of microprocessor controlled test technology has substantially lowered the time it takes for a test instrument to complete the required installation or electrical safety tests. Opportunities to reduce this time further are therefore extremely limited.

Many of the improvements to be made in T&M operational efficiencies are now likely to be gained through ease of use and the incorporation of complementary technologies or features capable of reducing the downtime between tests.

In particular, the ability to enhance the transfer and use of the test data gathered by the instrument as part of installation work, periodic testing or portable appliance testing now takes on even greater importance.

Specifically, the ability to use the tester not only to gather the electrical test data required, but to provide an almost seamless link for the production of certificates and test reports gives the contractor the opportunity not only to save money by carrying out testing more efficiently, but also enhances links with customers – improving their business prospects as a result.

Combined testing
For 17th edition testing, contractors are broadly faced with a choice between multifunction/combination testers or single application specific testers.

As the name implies the latter are designed to carry out one specific function – RCD testing, insulation, earth resistance etc – and the all in one type testers are single units designed to carry out a wide range of tests including earth loop, insulation resistance, continuity, RCDs etc.

Choice invariably depends on the scope of work to be carried out, but increasingly it is the multifunction testers that have become the preferred tools of the trade for those involved in 17th edition testing.

This is for both practical reasons, in terms of using one meter constantly rather than swapping and changing between testers, and also for budget considerations – buying, maintaining and calibrating one combination tester is invariably cheaper than buying three separate ones.

Electrical contractors claim that the most frustrating part of installation testing is the recording of test data onto certificates for 17th edition and Part P requirements.

Most traditional multifunction testers carry out the required circuit tests and display the test reading for transfer onto the test certificate manually. Alternatively, readings can be recorded on a PDA, smart phone or laptop and then transferred to a desktop application for transfer and printing of a master certificate.

However this raises some additional cost and ergonomic considerations – why should a contractor purchase and carry a tester and a PDA? How does an electrician successfully hold and operate the tester, test leads and a PDA or smart phone while recording the results at the same time?

The latest generation 17th edition testers eliminate the use of intermediary devices by storing a replica of the test certificate within the tester so that test data can be automatically incorporated onto the certificate as testing is undertaken.

In this way the instrument combines the functions of a multifunction test instrument and data logger. When inspection and testing is complete, the certificate held inside the tester can be transferred to accompanying PC software for the completion and print out of formal certificates.

As a result the time consuming (and therefore costly) practice of recording results on paper, a dummy certificate or a PDA is avoided. In addition, because the tester warns the user if any certificate fields appear incomplete or invalid, verification of data can be carried out on site immediately and without return visits. Recently the concept of ‘on board certification’ in testers has been extended with additional features aimed at large testing organisations or the testing of large premises.

 17th Edition
For example, the most advanced 17th edition testers now have the ability to upload certificates generated on a PC into multiple testers. This is particularly useful in situations where a number of test personnel might be working on the same large installation, such as a hospital development or shopping mall and enables specific test work to be allocated to a number of engineers very easily.

Once testing has been undertaken, the software enables test results downloaded separately from different testers to be merged into a single certificate for the premises concerned.

Another new feature is the ability to clone certificates from an existing master document. This allows the user to select an existing certificate and use this as a template to create multiple certificates for identical or similar electrical installations.

The cloned certificates will contain all of the distribution boards and circuit details held in the original and therefore represents an easy way of generating certificates for, say, 20 or more houses on a street which all have the same electrical configuration.

In these combined testing and certification testers, all data transfer between the PC and the instrument can be achieved easily using Bluetooth connectivity. This means that a certificate can be uploaded to the tester, the required test and inspection carried out and the information downloaded to a PC and the final certificate printed directly onto pre-printed NICEIC, ECA, ECA SELECT or NAPIT stationery.

PAT process integration
In the same way, significant time and cost savings can be achieved with modern integrated portable appliance testing (PAT) systems used for electrical safety testing applications.

Bluetooth enabled testers represent a significant advance by eliminating the need for the constant plugging and unplugging of PAT accessory cables for printers and PC connections – greatly reducing the time taken to complete test, labelling and data transfer functions.

In this way the key issue for the modern PAT contractor is no longer about which tester should be used, but on how new system technologies can be utilised to make the whole test process easier and more effective.

Larger PAT service operations and contractors invariably have teams of field engineers carrying out safety testing at customer locations. For them, powerful PAT test data management packages are available that facilitate two-way transfer of data between the tester and the software.

This enables engineers to pre-programme their testers directly from the PC database with the necessary equipment and test information before the day’s work begins and then download results into the records programme at the end of the shift – and directly to the PC records when using a Bluetooth enabled tester. 

New PDA based PAT software programmes take this smarter working to a different level by promoting greater flexibility for field service engineers whether or not their testers possess an internal memory for results storage. Another innovation is the use of PAT management software that constantly monitors test records in a PAT results database, automatically triggering re-test notices for those approaching the next test date.

In addition, embedded software in the tester can be used to provide a time management tool for a better understanding of tester use and the performance of engineers in the field.

 With such intelligent advances in test instrumentation, electricians involved in both 17th edition testing and portable appliance testing can be sure that the right test package solution is available to meet their specific needs.