Testing an exisitng installation without power

[ians]

I have just completed an inspection report for an installation which had no power.

The transfer for the property is ready, just waiting for the COC. What is the proceedure if there was no power at the time of test and will not be power unltil the new owner has the power reconnected.

Do i have to go back and complete the tests, or do i just indicate on the COC that there was no power at the time of test.

[Dave A]

We will not under any circumstances issue a COC until we have tested the installation under power.

[AndyD]

Yep we wouldn't CoC a full premises without power either, there's too many tests that can't be performed, you can't declare the place compliant if you can't test the earth leakage and the means of isolation for example. We've had buildings without power before and issued CoC's for certain minor additional work and a couple of times where we've installed a builders trailing power boxes after isolating a DB during construction work for example.

[ians]

The building will not have power on until the new owners takes over. So its a bit of a catch situation, no power, no COC, no transfer.

[Dave A]

Is it switched off at the meter, or has the municipality removed the supply cables to the meter?

[ians]

The jumpers have been removed, i hope you note thinking that i should bypass the meter and connect the cable to the main DB diretly to the circuit breaker, for testing purposes, now that would be against the law

[AndyD]

Phone the inspector and explain the predicament. He can give you permission to reinstated power and isolate again after the CoC testing.

[Dave A]

The jumpers have been removed

Phone the inspector and explain the predicament. He can give you permission to reinstated power and isolate again after the CoC testing.

Yeah - that's the problem. In terms of the standing arrangement we have with the Ethekwini Electricity Department we can flip on and flip off as long as we take meter readings before and after, but if they've removed the jumpers it's code to sparkies "do not touch because there's a serious problem with this account".

Ian - they're not going to get their rates clearance anyway until the account is resolved, so you shouldn't be holding up the sale if you stick to your guns and insist the supply is connected before you can issue the CoC. We've had to do it more than a few times and in a twisted way the conveyancers prefer it - it gives them more leverage to get the utlities account issue resolved sooner rather than later.

[Sparks]

Phone the inspector and explain the predicament. He can give you permission to reinstated power and isolate again after the CoC testing.

Standing arrangement with our municipality. Done it so many times & it uses so little to do the tests that I do not even bother them anymore unless there is a seal on the Isolator.

[AndyD]

I would also agree normally and we've never been requested to take meter readings. The difference in this case was that the meter tails had been removed and there's several reasons they may have done this other than non-payment. If the tails were entirely removed I would contact the local electrical inspector for a reason.