AU2010202786A1

AU2010202786A1 - An Electrical Tradesperson Testing Unit

Info

Publication number: AU2010202786A1
Application number: AU2010202786A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Patrick Vandeleur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-01
Filing date: 2010-07-01
Publication date: 2012-01-19

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical tradesperson testing unit. The testing unit is suitable for testing an electrical tradesperson and includes electrical components. Fault setting means can set faults associated with the electrical components to be detected by the electrical tradesperson during a test. Preferably, the faults are connection faults. In one embodiment, the fault setting means can set a subset of faults from a set of possible faults. 3o3 aAs czzz 0 0 w o 4p 0 __[-JI410 6%

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT AN ELECTRICAL TRADESPERSON TESTING UNIT The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: AN ELECTRICAL TRADESPERSON TESTING UNIT TECHNICAL FIELD 5 The present invention generally relates to an electrical tradesperson testing unit for testing an electrical tradesperson such as an electrician or electrical apprentice. BACKGROUND 10 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 15 Electrical tradespeople such as electricians undertake apprenticeships to become qualified. The apprenticeship involves on the job training as well as a theoretical component at school. Many electricians work in specialized areas, and therefore do not acquire 20 practical skills in other areas or can become deskilled in some areas as time elapses. For example, an electrician working in a mining environment may be familiar with maintaining mining equipment, although may no longer have the skills to install or fault find household fuse box electrical components in the event of a change of employment. 25 The applicant has perceived a need for an electrical tradesperson testing unit for testing the practical skills of an electrical tradesperson (e.g. during an educational revision course). 30 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical tradesperson testing unit for testing an electrical tradesperson, the testing unit including: a plurality of electrical components; and fault setting means for setting faults associated with the electrical components to be detected by the electrical tradesperson during a test. 5 The electrical tradesperson testing unit is suitable for testing the practical skills of an electrical tradesperson, for example, during an educational revision course. Preferably, the faults are connection faults. The connection faults may include 10 any one or more of: polarity interconnection faults, high resistance faults simulating a poor electrical connection, open circuit connection faults in respective power supply lines (A, N, E) and short circuit connection faults between respective power supply lines (AN, AE, or EN) simulating insulation resistance faults. 15 The fault setting means may include a bank of switches. Each switch may include a plurality of settings. For each switch, one setting may set no faults whereas each other fault setting sets a plurality of faults. Each switch may be a rotary switch. 20 Preferably, the electrical components include building electrical components used in or around buildings. The building electrical components may include one or more electrical wall sockets, light switches, stove switches, stove elements, lights, earth components or fuse box components. The fuse box 25 components may include circuit breakers, a mains power connection interface, an electricity meter or an electrical isolation link. The testing unit may include a voltage step down means to step voltages down from an input mains power level to an output test voltage level. The 30 voltage step down means may include a transformer. The test voltage level may be 24V. The testing unit may be portable. The testing unit may include electrically insulated feet. The testing unit may include a box for containing the electrical components and fault setting means. The box may include a door defining apertures though which the electrical components and fault setting means can be accessed during the test. The testing unit may further include one or more handles fitted to the box to facilitate manual lifting and transportation of the 5 testing unit. The testing unit may further include one or more hooks by which the testing unit can be hung on the rungs of a ladder during testing. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for testing an electrical tradesperson, the method including the step of 10 setting faults associated with electrical components of an electrical tradesperson testing unit to be detected by the electrical tradesperson during a test. The faults may be connection faults. The faults may be component faults. The 15 step of setting faults may involve setting a subset of faults from a set of potential faults. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 20 Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make 25 reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1 is a front schematic view of an electrical tradesperson testing unit (with a front door removed) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 30 Figure 2a is a rear perspective view of the front door to be pivotally fitted to the testing unit of Figure 1; Figure 2b is a rear view of the front door of Figure 2a; and Figure 3 is a recording sheet to be used when testing the practical skills of an electrical tradesperson using the testing unit of Figure 1. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electrical tradesperson testing unit 2 shown in Figure 1 for testing an electrical tradesperson. The testing unit 2 includes a plurality of electrical components. 10 Fault setting means 4 including a bank of eight rotary switches 6 is provided in the testing unit 2. The rotary switches 6 can set connection (or line) faults associated with the electrical components to be detected by the electrical tradesperson during a test. The testing unit 2 is suitable for testing the practical testing and fault finding skills of the electrical tradesperson, for 15 example, during an educational revision course. A detailed description of the testing unit 2 is provided below. The electrical components include building electrical components used in or around buildings and with which the tradesperson should be familiar. In 20 particular, the building electrical components include six double electrical wall sockets 8, six light switches 14, six lights 16 to be actuated by respective light switches 14, a stove switch 18, a stove element 20 to be actuated by the stove switch 18, a main earth component 22 with an earth clamp and electrode, an equi-potential bonding earth component 24 and fuse box 25 components 26. The fuse box components 26 include ten circuit breakers 30 with a master actuation switch 32 for enabling/disabling the circuit breakers 30, a single-phase mains power connection interface (or box) 34, an electricity meter 36 and an electrical isolation link 38 coupled between the power connection interface 34 and electricity meter 36. 30 Each rotary switch 6 of the fault setting means 4 includes four settings. For each rotary switch 6, one setting sets no faults in the testing unit 2. The other three fault settings set four faults each so the total number of possible faults set by a single switch 6 is twelve (i.e. 3 settings x 4 faults = 12 faults).

Accordingly, the total set of possible faults in the testing unit 2 is ninety-six (i.e. 8 switches x 12 faults = 96 faults). Setting all of the switches 6 to a single fault setting generates a subset of 32 faults throughout the testing unit 2 at one time (i.e. 4 faults per switch x 8 switches = 32 faults). 5 The connection faults simulate wiring problems which can occur in reality. The connection faults can include any one or more of: polarity interconnection faults for polarized electrical components, high resistance faults (HiRes) simulating a poor electrical connection, open circuit connection faults 10 (OpnCct) in respective power supply lines (Active, Neutral, Earth) and short circuit interconnection (IC) faults between respective power supply lines (Active-Neutral [e.g. IC Main Neutral], Active-Earth [e.g. F2Earth], or Earth Neutral). 15 The testing unit 2 is portable and, in use, rests upon electrically insulated feet. The testing unit 2 includes a box 40 for containing both the electrical components 8-38 and fault setting means 4. The box 40 includes a door 42 shown in Figure 2. The door 42 defines apertures 44 though which the electrical components 8-38 and fault setting means 4 can be accessed during 20 the test. The testing unit 2 further includes handles (not shown) fitted to the box 40 to facilitate manual lifting and transportation of the testing unit 2. The testing unit 2 further includes a pair of hooks (not shown) mounted to the rear of the box 40 and by which the testing unit 2 can be hung on the rungs of a ladder during testing. 25 The testing unit 2 includes a voltage step down means including a transformer to step voltages down from an input mains power level (e.g. 240V) to an output test voltage level (24V). In this manner, the tradesperson or tester cannot be electrocuted when the test unit 2 is activated during testing. The 30 testing unit 2 includes a cover for covering the fault setting means 4 during testing, and which can be opened to reveal the settings of the fault setting means 4 after test results have been recorded by the tradesperson undertaking the test.

A method for testing an electrical tradesperson is now briefly described. Initially, no power is connected to the testing unit 2. The method involves setting connection faults 8-38 associated with the electrical components to be 5 detected by the electrical tradesperson during the test. Each rotary switch 6 is set to a fault setting and thereby sets four out of twelve possible faults in the testing unit 2 as can best be seen with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 shows a master test recording sheet 50 for the lines (or conductors) 10 of the test box 2 affected by a first rotary switch 6 (i.e. switch 1). The lines, corresponding to respective items 52a, 52b, 52c, 52d in the master test recording sheet 50, include: (1) a mains active line interconnecting the electrical isolation link 38 between the power connection interface 34 and electricity meter 36, and the 15 electricity meter 36 to the main earth component 22; (2) a main earth line in series with the main earth wire component 22; (3) a power point active line interconnecting an electrical wall socket 8 and a circuit breaker 30; and (4) a light active line interconnecting a light 16 and its associated light switch 20 14. As can best be determined from Figure 3 for the mains active line referred to above, when the first rotary switch 8 is in: (1) a first position 54a, there is no fault in the mains active line [Clean]; 25 (2) a second position 54b, the mains active line is short circuited to earth [F2Earth]; (3) a third position 54c, a high resistance is connected in series with the mains active line simulating a poor electrical connection [HiRes]; and (4) a fourth position 54d, the mains active line is interconnected to the Neutral 30 line [IC Main Neutral]. Similarly, the first rotary switch 6 introduces connection faults in the above mentioned main earth line, power point active line and light active line corresponding to respective items 52b, 52c, 52d in the test recording sheet 50. Similarly, the second to eighth rotary switches can introduce connection faults in other lines (or conductors) of the test box 2. The testing method further involves the tradesperson checking each of the 5 components 8-38 of the inactive testing unit 2 using a multi-meter and MeggerTM (insulation resistance tester) with a view of detecting any connection faults associated with the electrical components 8-38. The electrical tradesperson records the detected faults on a test recording sheet 50. The test recording sheet is later compared with the master recording sheet 10 50 during assessment, where the introduced faults are readily apparent from the settings of the rotary switches 6 used during the test. Subsequent to comparing the detected faults with the known introduced faults, a tester (e.g. teacher) can activate power to the testing unit 2 when the 15 connection faults are removed using the rotary switches 6. The tester, whether alone or together with the tradesperson, then has the opportunity to inspect the activated and faultless test unit 2. Advantageously, the rotary switches 6 can be set to different settings from test 20 to test so that the connection faults to be detected vary. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 25 For example, the preferred embodiment involved setting rotary switches 6 to set connection (or line) faults associated with the electrical components. In an alternative embodiment, the rotary switches 6 can set operational or functional component faults simulating faulty components. 30 In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An electrical tradesperson testing unit for testing an electrical tradesperson, the testing unit including: a plurality of electrical components; and fault setting means for setting faults associated with the electrical components to be detected by the electrical tradesperson during a test.

2. A testing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the faults are connection faults.

3. A testing unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the connection faults include any one or more of: polarity interconnection faults, high resistance faults simulating a poor electrical connection, open circuit connection faults in respective power supply lines (A, N, E) and short circuit connection faults between respective power supply lines (AN, AE, or EN) simulating insulation resistance faults.

4. A testing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fault setting means includes a bank of switches.

5. A testing unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein each switch includes a plurality of settings and, for each switch, one setting sets no faults whereas each other fault setting sets a plurality of faults.

6. A testing unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein each switch is a rotary switch.

7. A testing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical components include building electrical components used in or around buildings.

8. A testing unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the building electrical components include one or more electrical wall sockets, light switches, stove switches, stove elements, lights, earth components or fuse box components. IU

9. A testing unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fuse box components include circuit breakers, a mains power connection interface, an electricity meter or an electrical isolation link.

10. A testing unit as claimed in claim 1, further including a voltage step down means to step voltages down from an input mains power level to an output test voltage level.

11. A testing unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the voltage step down means includes a transformer.

12. A testing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the testing unit is portable.

13. A testing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fault setting means can set a subset of faults from a set of possible faults.

14. A testing unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the testing unit includes a box for containing the electrical components and fault setting means, the box including a door defining apertures though which the electrical components and fault setting means can be accessed during the test.

15. A testing unit as claimed in claim 14, further including one or more handles fitted to the box to facilitate manual lifting and transportation of the testing unit.

16. A testing unit as claimed in claim 14, further including one or more hooks by which the testing unit can be hung on the rungs of a ladder during testing.

17. A method for testing an electrical tradesperson, the method including the step of setting faults associated with electrical components of an electrical tradesperson testing unit to be detected by the electrical tradesperson during a test.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the faults are connection faults.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the faults are component faults.

20. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of setting faults involves setting a subset of faults from a set of possible faults. Dated this 1 st day of July 2010 PATRICK VANDELEUR by my attorneys Cullens Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys