wheels 544 Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 Batteries Batteries shall be secured against movements and inclinations occuring during boat movements. (personal note, this includes protection from complete roll over for sailboats) Batteries shall be covered for protection of battery and battery terminals from loose and falling objects Batteries shall not be installed directly above or below a fuel tank or fuel filter and any other metallic component of the fuel system within 300mm above the battery top, as installed, shall be electrically insulated Battery overcurrent protection complies with Clause 7.3.1 Battery Ventillation complies with Clause 4.9.2 continued Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 544 Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 Shore Power Confirm the Boat's shore power connection complies with Clause 5.5.2 Shore Power available indication is provided by the changeover switch Reverse Polarity indication is provided. contiinued Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 544 Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 Earth Continuity Tests The connection between any point on the installation required ti be earth and the switchboard earth bar or termianl is continuos The mainAC earthing conductor between the main AC swtichboard and the boat electrical Earth is conitnuous and the resistance of the main Earthign conductor does not exceed 0.5ohm The connection between any point on the installation required to be equipotentially bonded and the switch board earth bar is continuous and does not exceed 0.5ohms There is a MEN connection between the Neutral and the Earth at the source of supply or where supplies operate in parallel at the main switchboard. Note: In this instance shore power power must be isolated from the vessel system by an isolating transformer or converter Fixed wired appliances requiring Earthing (Class 1) are connected to Earth With the boat connected to Shore Power and Earth fault loop impedance test shall be carried out fropm each AC outlet on the boat to confirm the Earth loop impedance in Ohms meets AS/NZS 3000 Note: for boats fitted with Galvanic Isolators, this will also test tge operation othe Galvanic Isolator/s continued Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 544 Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 Polarity and Correct connections In a multiphase circuit as switch, or circuit breaker when used as an isolator,operates simultaneously in all active conductors of the circuit in which it is connected Neutral conductors of circuits are connected to the Neutral Bus bar of the Switchboard from which the circuit is supplied The incoming main neutral is connected to the neutral bar at tge main switchboard Every RCD operates in the Live conductors (active and neutral) of the circuits to which it is connected Every single-pole switch or protective device of the electrical installation operates in the active conductor of the circuit in which it is connected Single Phase sockets-outlets that accommodate flat pin plugs are connected so that, when viewed from the front of the socket-outlet, earth, active and neutral are in a counter clockwise order and the earth is connected to the slpot on the radial line. Where multi-phase socket-outlets of the same type form part of an electrical installation the phase sequence shall be the same. The polarity of the supply lead and appliance inlet is correct. continued Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 544 Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 RCD and Insulation Testing The correct operation of RCD's shall be varified by the use of a special test equipment Tests shall be performed on each final subcircuit protected by an RCD to verify that the RCD operates to disconnect the designated circuit In NZ, RCDs for personnel protection shall be verified as being type A An insulation resistance test shall be carried out with test instruments to ensure, so far as practicable, that there is adiquate insulation between live parts and Earth and between LV and ELV systems Testing of fixed wired isolating transformers Fixed wired isolating transformers shall be tested in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 AC Elecrical Power sources Confirm transfer from one non-synchronised AC power source circuit ti another is made by means which opens all current carrying conductors before closing the other source circuit abd is interlocked by mechanical or electromechanical means. Verify by functiontesting to confirm synchronized AC power sources are provided with Under Voltage protection Over Voltage protection Reverse power protection-generators Backfeedprotection-Inverters Confirm the point at which the neutral conductor of an AC system is Earthed complies with clause 5.2.2 Confirm switchboard Electrical instruments are indicating values within +/- 5% of the values indicated by the test instruments Additional Tests carried out 1 2 3 4 Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 544 Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 Then all finished off with the paper work and sticker. This is quite an involved test, it should take several hrs for some installations and I can not see it being cheap folks. Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Or maybe this one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Building-renov ... 951474.htm Yup! That is exactly the ticket fineline.. This sort of thing was what I was indicating would be acceptable according to the standards, and should be acceptable to the marina because: 1. It has an RCB to protect the user on all the circuits supplied. 2. It has an MCB (10A in this example, but could be 16A) that will protect the Marina supply and the cable running to the boat. As long as this unit would pass the tests required on the RCD (and standard polarity/earth tests) then it would be legal according to the standard. I cannot see why the Marinas would want anything more, as with this, their arses are well and truly covered.. Like KM was intimating, I think someone, somewhere has got their facts wrong, and the Marinas need to be stood up to and advised otherwise... Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 The details of the tests Wheels was listing are atached below. Yacht elecctrical installation test.doc Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I read some signs on the fingers at Seaview today about electrical safety. They are getting serious about having tested leads, but no mention of RCD boxes. I guess things take a while to filter down this way. Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 544 Posted October 4, 2010 Author Share Posted October 4, 2010 I will go see a mate today about this lead testing business. I have a feeling that manditory tests got dropped. Leads came under "electrical appliances" and when I was servicing, we had to test every eletrical appliance that was worked on. We service technicians country wide argued the point of "why??" Most especially for double insulated appliances, but that is another story. Anyway, as it was, a toaster or other cheap appliance was already at the point of no longer worth repairing. Only the slightly more expesive appliances, like Russel Hobbs for instance, where worth repairing. But if you then had to electrically test and tag, then it was simply not worth it. So appliances got dumped in the skip, which also cost and in came "bench fee's", because we ended up taking the appliance across the counter and walked to the skip bin and dump fee's got expensive. However, I was talking to a service tech a year back and I am sure he said the law changed again and they now no longer have to mandetorely test appliances. Which makes a mockery in the respects to the powers to be saying it was for safety, when price suddenly has the final say. Unless power leads have been made an exception, that would also mean they would no longer need testing for private use. Only hire and commercial, i.e. a Builder, would require inspection. It is also important to understand here, it is an Electical test, NOT an eWOF. An electrical appliance repair shop or a sparky can carry this out. An Inspector is not required. Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 544 Posted October 4, 2010 Author Share Posted October 4, 2010 Which if I add another point into this just for interest. This testinf of an RCD is actually rediculous also. They are actually self testing. For an authority to recommend a test being needed, only goes to show they have no understanding of how these devices even work. An RCD works by sensing an "Imbalance" on the conductors. It has two very sensitive electrical coils (or solid state versions of such) and if the current is flowing correctly into a load, the identical current is "seen" across both coils and the device remains in it's safe mode. If a fault develops, then a tiny amount of current could start flowing in the Earth conductor. The Earth conductor is tied to neutral back at the mains supply and so the neutral now has slightly less current. The coils now sense a very small difference which unbalance them and the unit trips. The self testing point is that if a fault develops in the RCD itself, the coild are automaticaly unbalanced and the unit will trip all the time. Hence it's "self test". Having to test that it trips and the time it trips in is just ignorance to actually understanding the technology. But that ain't ever going to get changed. Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 Wheels, I think if you go the whole hog with an RCD test you have to use slightly more sophisticated testing gear that trips the RCD and also measures the time it took. I have never seen one of these and have no idea if it is an expensive bit of kit or not. But yes, the basic self test of an RCD by pressing the test button is certainly adequate for the equipment we are talking about here... Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 544 Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 Yes there is a little device. I used to use one as well as the Megger. It tests trip current and trip time and gives you a read out on time. But those two things are part and parcel to the actual way the device works. So these devices will either work or not. It would be increadibly rare for one to ever alter as the exact same fault would have to occur exactly and precisely the same in two seperate circuits. Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Yes there is a little device. I used to use one as well as the Megger. It tests trip current and trip time and gives you a read out on time. But those two things are part and parcel to the actual way the device works. So these devices will either work or not. It would be increadibly rare for one to ever alter as the exact same fault would have to occur exactly and precisely the same in two seperate circuits. Fair comment and you are right. If it doesn't work, you throw it away and get another one. To test an extension lead, RCD and MCB hooked up to a few 10A sockets should take about 15 min including filling in the tag, and writing the invoice!!! Even at $100/hr, that is $25.00, so where is the issue? The Marinas need to have a closer look, and if I was a berth holder, I would be making quite a big noise about now and encouraging other berth holders to do the same!! Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Wheels, it appears there is a new Electrical safety handbook for 2010. Do you have it or access to it? Apparently this quotes some big fines, and lists responsibilities, and is the reason the Marinas are running scared... I am interested in this as I am very keen to work in the marine electrical industry once I have paid a few big loans off via working offshore. I'm sure the pay is crap, but it would be interesting... Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 I was thinking that the way it is going there is some easy money to be made. Link to post Share on other sites
wheels 544 Posted October 5, 2010 Author Share Posted October 5, 2010 A PM on the way smithy Link to post Share on other sites
Herdy 0 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Some links to the new 2010 regulations. http://www.energysafety.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentTOC____42815.aspx http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2010/0036/25.0/DLM2763501.html Link to post Share on other sites
smithy09 50 Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Thanks Wheels and Herdy. Link to post Share on other sites
otto 31 Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15221&start=20 A link to the other forum that hopefully answers most questions Link to post Share on other sites
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