How to Test an Electrical Installation

When you have completed an electrical installation, you should test all of the components involved before turning on the equipment or appliance; testing them will help you to ensure they are working properly and do not pose any hazards. In some cases, you might find that a wire is dislodged within the circuit or the appliance itself is faulty. In more extreme cases, you might find there is a fault in the connections, which can cause a short circuit, damage the appliance or produce sparks that can start a fire. Hopefully, your test will show that the components are in working order, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Things You'll Need

  • Multimeter
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Instructions

  1. Test for Continuity

    • 1

      Make sure that the power to the installation is off; it needs to be off for the multimeter to work properly when testing for continuity. A continuity test seeks to establish whether a circuit is complete and uninterrupted (i.e., continuous). This test is useful when looking for disconnected or cut wires and damaged components in a circuit.

    • 2

      Switch on the multimeter and turn its knob to point at the continuity symbol, which looks like a phone network connection symbol or an arrow with a line across it in front. Touch the tips of the two testing probes and listen for a continuous beep, which means the multimeter is operating properly.

    • 3

      Attach the test probes on both the live and neutral pins of the plug and listen for a beep. If you hear one, it means that the entire system is continuous and there is no point that current will not flow through. Test individual components of the system for further confirmation by touching the test probes at both ends of the electrical path of each component.

    Test for Current.

    • 4

      Turn off the power to the entire system. Read the appliance's instructions to find the current rating and make sure it is below the indicated limit of the multimeter to avoid endangering yourself or the machine. Once you are sure it is below the limit, turn the knob of the multimeter to point at "A".

    • 5

      Discontinue the circuit at a suitable point, preferably along a cable where it will not interfere with the circuit's delicate components. Cut the wire at the point or unmount a pin in the circuit. Replace the gap with the multimeter in series, where each testing probe touches one of the two disconnected points of the circuit.

    • 6

      Turn on the power and observe the multimeter screen for current readings. The reading should correspond to the current rating of the installation. A deviation from this rating means there is a fault that needs repair or a part that needs replacing.

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