Definition of fault finding

Fault finding means the testing of the operation of electrical equipment to determine if that electrical equipment is safe and working correctly as defined in the Victorian Electricity Safety (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2010.

This definition supplements the requirements already mandated by Sections 43 and 44 of the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

The definition within the Regulations does not describe any activity related to locating a fault and is of limited use.

One example of fault finding is, the disconnection and reconnection of electrical wiring at the equipment itself including testing the equipment for safe operation and fault finding of that equipment.

In Victoria, under an Order in Council, testing (without alteration or disconnection of wiring) is not considered prescribed electrical work and does not require a licence and testing for safe operation is already a mandatory requirement under the Electricity Safety Act 1998.

Therefore, the interpretation of this description is that in addition to simply disconnecting and replacing a component without testing, until the unit works again or the component has been identified as faulty by limited testing, the ‘fault finding’ endorsement would permit the holder of a Class 1 Restricted licence to for example, insert current shunts in series with components to obtain values or bypass controls to activate other components with the system live in order to locate a fault.

Training

In order to obtain the fault finding endorsement applicants must have completed the following training:

UEE11 Electrotechnology Training Package

UEENEEP010A, 11A, 12A, 13A, 14A, 15A or 21A Disconnect / reconnect electrical Appliances / equipment connected to low voltage installation wiring; and UEENEEP016A, 17A, 18A, 19A or 20A Locate and rectify faults in low voltage appliances / equipment using set procedures

OR

MEM05 Metal and Engineering Training Package

MEM18049C Disconnect/reconnect fixed wired equipment up to 1000 volts a.c./1500 volts d.c.; and MEM18046B Fault find/repair electrical equipment/components up to 1000 volts a.c./1500 volts d.c.

These are the qualifications (or equivalent) required by Energy Safe Victoria prior to issuing a Class 1 licence.

The current definitions add only a minor component to the work that can be carried out when endorsed for fault finding. It does however ensure these workers are suitably competent to fault find and test.