There are three types of electrical maintenance: preventive, predictive and corrective. The first two can be described as proactive, as you are carrying out tests to avoid faults occurring which could lead to safety hazards and operational disruption. The third, corrective maintenance, is carrying out repairs and remedial work after a fault has been identified, and hence after a system has lost power or caused a safety hazard.
While predictive maintenance is useful in avoiding costs, disruption and safety hazards, it can involve technical diagnostic equipment and requires high levels of accuracy. Preventive maintenance, meanwhile, involves a planned and authorised schedule of tests which are performed over agreed time intervals and based on your knowledge and experience of your electrical systems. This provides you with control over your electrical systems, and ensures they are safe, efficient and reliable.
What tests are carried out in preventive electrical testing?
Preventive electrical testing involves a series of tests, inspections and monitoring tailored to meet the needs of your electrical installations, your machinery and equipment and regulatory requirements. Your preventive electrical testing programme will involve a series of systematic tasks designed to prevent faults occurring. This will vary depending on the size, design, nature and power requirements of a system, but will typically involve:
- Visual inspections - Checking for visual signs of damage or deterioration, such as frayed wires, damaged insulation on cables, corrosion, loose connections or signs of overheating.
- Tightening connections – Some terminal connections are visible, for example in an electrical panel, and can work loose over time. Loose connections can increase resistance leading to overheating and eventually a fault or a fire. Quickly tightening these connections can avoid that.
- Cleaning components – Electrical conductivity can be impeded by dust and debris, particularly in components such as circuit breakers and relays. Lightly cleaning and dusting visible components can prevent these faults.
- Insulation resistance testing – It is very easy to test the insulation resistance of a system to identify where resistance is very low and hence where faults and safety issues could occur.
- Thermal imaging – Using infrared thermography you can detect hidden hot spots in circuits and components which could identify potential problems early, and before they cause damage or safety issues.
- Continuity testing – A simple continuity test on a circuit confirms it is operating effectively and reliably.
- Calibration – You can verify the accuracy of some measuring devices by calibrating them using specialist test equipment.
What are the benefits of preventive electrical testing?
- Identify hidden problems before they result in a fault
- To prevent electrical safety issues
- To prevent damage to machinery and equipment
- To prevent operational downtime and repair costs
- To identify performance issues which could be causing inefficient operations
- To maximise energy efficiency in an electrical system
- To extend the lifespan of machinery and equipment and ensure it is operating within manufacturer guidelines
- To ensure full compliance with regulatory requirements
By implementing preventive electrical testing you are protecting your people and your assets, as well as maximising the effectiveness and efficiency of your operations. At Test Instrument Solutions we have a wide range of test equipment, including multi-function testers, thermal imaging cameras and digital multimeters, which are effective for your preventive electrical testing.
Please note that this section is for information purposes only. Anyone using equipment referred to in this section must be suitably qualified and/or experienced within the respective field. If in doubt before use, please consult a qualified electrician or engineer & thoroughly read all instruction booklets.