Free notes
Continuity of protective conductors: what you are testingWhy is continuity always the first test?
Free from the notes: Sparky’s video on it, the section word for word as members see it, and a PDF to keep.
The notes
Exactly as they are on the site.
A protective conductor is, in practice, any green-and-yellow conductor in the installation: the circuit protective conductors (CPCs), the main protective bonding and any supplementary bonding. This test proves each one is continuous — an unbroken path of copper, so fault current has somewhere to go.
It is the first test in the sequence, on an initial verification and on a periodic where a full test is being done. Each test proves something the next one depends on: you can’t trust an insulation reading, or a Zs, on a circuit you haven’t proved has a CPC.
There are two methods. This practical is test method 1, R1 + R2, for radial circuits.
Guidance Note 3 · 2.6.5 · continuity of protective conductors Guidance Note 3 · Figure 2.12 · p.57 · the sequence of tests
Free section from Sparky Study Notes. The full Level 3 notes, 1,463 practice questions and the video lessons: sparkystudynotes.co.uk
Test yourself on it
The tests are in the members’ area. Get one wrong and it shows you why, and where to revise.
Get new notes and exam tips from Sparky
About one email a fortnight. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy noticeThat was one section. There are 583.
Sparky Study Notes is the whole Level 3 syllabus written up like this: the explanation, the worked example, and where it is in your book. With a video lesson for every part and a practice paper for every exam.
- 583sections of written notes
- 35video lessons
- 1,463practice questions
- 146diagrams, redrawn
- 18th Edition
- Building Regs
- PAT
- Fundamental Inspection & Testing
- Initial Verification
- Periodic Inspection & Testing