GB2622827A

GB2622827A - Improvements in testing of electrical spurs, including light switches, isolators and joint boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2622827A
Application number: GB2214260.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clark Andrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-09-29
Filing date: 2022-09-29
Publication date: 2024-04-03
Also published as: GB202214260D0

Abstract

An electrical spur 1, which may be a junction isolator, joint box, and light switch, with an external testing panel 5 to enable testing of the spur without having to remove it from the wall. The spur which has a casing 2, and may have a spur switch, an on / off switch 3, a fuse and board with a light 4, a covered plug point section 5 that has at least three holes for testing probes and an additional plug to be inserted. In use, the live, neutral and earth wires are disposed from the mains supply (L, N, E figure 2) to engage with the switch, internal copper links (4A, figure 2) and connected plug point section (5A, figure 2) and to exit as the load to appliances.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN TESTING OF ELECTRICAL SPURS, INCLUDING LIGHT SWITCHES, ISOLATORS AND JOINT BOXES

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the testing of electrical spur and double pole switches.

Background

The use of testing devices for electrical fittings to check the safety and working status is widely known. There are test plugs for sockets and lighting fittings which are panel sections which allow external access to the internal wiring connection and current status but not for spurs including; (isolation switches) or double pole switches, joint boxes and isolators. This would save an enormous amount of testing time and also be a way of proving a live switch without removing it from the wail. During the testing process currently, the spur has to be removed from the wail or wherever d has been mounted and this must be done in each case, which is very time consuming. The first test carried out is to prove that the accessory is live and there is a neutral and earth present. After the spur is removed from the wall the test probes of an electrical tester are placed on the live/neutral and then live/earth proving or not if it is live.

The second test is a resistance test. With the circuit isolated a link is put between the isolated breaker in the fuse board and the earth bar in the fuse board. The test probe is then placed between the live and earth on the fused spur to take the reading. The third test is the insulation test. This doesn't involve the accessory being removed. The next test is the RCD (Residual Current Device.) test. The probes are attached at the spur end and an automatic ramp test will trigger the RCD to turn off. This must be turned back on four times and so this test is either a two person job (one person holding the probes on while the other turns the RCD on) or one person would have to walk back to the fuse board every time it trips to reset it and then walk back to the spur to start again. This would have to be carried out four times. With a plug that is clicked into the spur and the probes in the plug, as proposed in this disclosure, the person could stay at the fuse board and turn the RC[) back on every time it trips There would be no need to remove the spur switch from the wall.

The continuous removing and replacing of spurs can be time consuming especially if it is in a cupboard or high up. Sometimes the screws are awkward to replace if the box is sunk into the wall too far. The final test is the as test. This is imply to attach the probes and take a reading.

The present invention aims to provide an improved spur which has a panel located on the front of the switch casing at the top of the face of the spur. These test points can also be positioned on the top, bottom or side edges or to the underside of the front depth, as shown in the accompanying Figures. This allows an electrician to test the spur without having to remove it from the wall and also without having to use two people to carry out the testing, with repeated trips to and from a fuse board.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a spur which is mounted in the usual and known position, commonly on a wall. The general role of these spurs is to isolate a large consumer item, such as a cooking hob, cooker or similar. The spur casing can be presented without a switch in the case of unswitched fuse spurs (see Figure 5) or without a fuse light in some examples and this disclosure can be used with a myriad of other electrical points and junctions including; isolators, joint boxes, light switches and is not limited in its application.

In an example with a switched or non-switched spur which will be the types mainly used to demonstrate the invention, the switch is usually to the centre of the front panel above the fuse; for switching the electrical power on and off, this is used to isolate the consumer item. In an example of a switched spur, to the bottom area of the front panel is a fuse, sometimes with a light to show the power is on, as in known types. In addition to this with this new disclosure is a plug point, the plug point is a small section located at the top above the switch, which has a hinged or screw on cover which opens and closes (if it is positioned or the underside of the front panel; as in Figure 1 and 2. Inside the hinged cover when opened are three small 4mm holes for the probes of a multi-tester to be inserted for testing while the spur remains wall mounted. During the use of the disclosed spur voltage is applied to the cables causing current to travel down the copper wire.

This accesses the internal points including the switch via a terminal then runs through into it, before this terminal the test plug is situated Out of the switch the current runs down the internal copper links to the fuse. The access point in the plug point is derived of the three small 4rnm holes and enables the probes to be inserted and go through and onto the internal copper links for testing. After this the internal copper links would carry the current to the outgoing terminal of the accessory and the neutral copper link would go from the switch straight to the outgoing terminal and the earth wire wouldn't go through the switch. If a current is applied then the test probes can be used to test for the current by pushing the probes through the holes and measuring the voltage. For resistance; a cable is applied at the fuse board between the live and earth points. The probes are then applied at ihe switch to measure resistance between live and earth. This is known as rl + r2. Further to this an optional plug that plugs onto the three holes on the test plug can be applied, enabling, in use, for just a probe tester to be needed for proving power and an optional plug the user can attach to the front cover and then fit the probes into it to carry out the remote tests.

The panel for the 4rnm holes can be located on the top of the spur casing body, as shown in the accompanying Figures.

In this respect before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical spur with external testing panel which has al: the advantages of the prior spurs and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new coupling electrical spur with external testing panel which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved electrical spur with external testing panel which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical spur with external testing panel which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved electrical spur with external testing panel which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a dimensional view of the spur exterior with a frontal testing panel.

Figure 2 shows a wiring route diagram of the spur with a frontal and top located testing panel.

Figure 3 shows a dimensional view of the spur exterior with a botirm testing panel.

Figure 4 shows a wiring route diagram of a spur which has no switch.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the device is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the spur 1, which has a casing 2 and a switch 3 on the front panel of the casing 2 for turning the electrical power source to an appliance on and off. To the bottom area of the front panel is a fuse and board 4, with a light to show the power is on. In addition to this with this new disclosure is a plug point 5, the plug point is a small section located at the top above the switch for correct testing, which has a hinged or screw 9 on cover which opens and closes (if it is positioned on the bottom of the front panel, as in Figure 1.

Inside the cover when opened are three small 4mm: holes 6, 7, 8 for the probes of a multi-tester (not shown) to be inserted for testing while the spur 1 remains wall mounted.

Figure 2 shows the source power from the building mains supply as L live, N neutral and E earth these pass into the spur 14 engaging with a double pole rocker switch 3A and 10 to isolate L live and N neutral.

During the use of the disclosed spur 14 voltage is applied to the cables causing current to travel down the copper wire, this accesses the switch 10 via a terminal then runs through into it. Out of the switch 10 the current runs down internal copper links to the fuse and board 44. The access point in the plug point 54 derived of the three small 4mm holes enables the probes to be inserted and go through and onto the copper links for testing via connections 12, 13, 14. After this the copper links carry the current to the outgoing terminal of the accessory and the neutral copper link would go from the switch straight to the outgoing terminal and the E earth wire wouldn't go through the switch. If current is applied then the test probes can be used to test for current by pushing the probes through the holes and measuring the voltage. For resistance, a cable is applied at the fuse board between the L live and N neutral points. The probes are then applied at the switch 10 to measure resistance between live and earth. This as aforementioned is known as ri + r2.

Figure 3 shows the spur with the plug point located to the underside with 4mm holes SC, 7C. 8C shown.

Figure 4 shows an example of ci spur 1D without a switch using the plug point.

Claims

Claims 1) An electrical spur with external testing panel comprising; a spur which can be electrical points, junctions, isolators, joint boxes and light switches has a casing and can have an on / off switch, a fuse and board with a light and a plug covered point section which has at least three 4n-irn holes for testing probes and an additional plug to be inserted, internally, in use, live, neutral and earth wires are disposed from the mains supply to engage with the switch, internal copper links and connected plug point section and to exit as the load to appliances.
2) An electrical spur with external testing panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the testing probes each inserted, in use, into the 4rnm holes on the plug point section go through the holes horizontally and onto the internal copper links for testing.
3) An electrical spur with external testing panel as claimed in claim 2 wherein the testing probes each inserted, in use, into the 4rnm holes on the plug point section go through vertically and onto the internal copper links to facilitate testing, when the plug point section is located to the underside bottom or top edge of the spur casing.
4) An electrical spur with external testing panel as claimed in claim 3 wherein during testing when a current is applied, the testing probes are used to test for current by pushing the probes through the 4mm holes and measuring the voltage.
5) An electrical spur with external testing panel as claimed in claim 4 wherein during further testing for resistance, in use, a cable is applied at the fuse board between the live and neutral points, with the probes then applied at the switch point to measure resistance between live and earth.
6) An electrical spur with external testing panel as claimed in claim 5 wherein the internal copper links carry the current to the outgoing terminal of the accessory and the neutral copper link goes from the switch straight to the outgoing terminal and the earth wire does not go through the switch.
7) An electrical spur with external testing panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the additional plug can plug onto the three 4 mm holes on the lest plug point section, enabling, in use, for just a probe tester to be needed for proving power.
8) An electrical spur with external testing panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein, in use, an additional pug can attach to the front cover and then the testing probes are inserted into it to carry out the remote tests.
9) An electrical spur with external testing panel as claimed in claim 8 wherein the test point plug has a front cover.