Matthand20

For all Electricians waiting to take the Practical the biggest piece of advise i can give is to read all the information in this thread and prepare. Below is a description of each section of the Vetassess practical Exam.

Safe Isolation/Disconnection/Reconnection

The scenario given was an electrical heater in a kitchen had given someone a shock and we were there to check it. All i can say in this is to read the procedure given to you in the candidate booklet and learn it all by heart. I wrote the scenario in the candidate guide a couple of times until i was able to write it step by step without looking in the guide. This is a good way of memorizing the procedure how they want to see it. Remember to test your testers every time before and after you use them and also to check the appliance frame to ensure it is not live before starting. Before you reconnect the appliance you were required to test the CPC continuity and insulation resistance noting the maximum values allowed, your results and then pass or fail. I heard the assessor throw in a couple of additional scenarios to some of the other lads such as your boss is phoning you and you need to go outside to take the call. He was trying to see if you left the installation in a dangerous condition i.e exposed live connections or you hadnt locked off the mcb and left your warning signs on.

Motor

Firstly the assessor will write into your work book either star or delta. Once he has written down which one you are required to draw out the symbol for the motor connections and identify the winding connections i.e u1, u2, v1, v2, w1, w2. Next step was to draw out the connections for the given motor i.e star is L1 - U1, L2 - V1, L3 - W1, and then W2 - U2 - V2 and for Delta L1 - U1, L2 - V1, L3 - W1, and then W2 - U1, U2 - V1, V2 - W1. After you have done this you have to label up 4 components in the control circuit which were start, stop, thermal overload, and a normally open contact (Revise what the symbols look like) and then draw out the DOL motor control circuit using the symbols and make sure you number the connections as i did that and the assessor was pleased i had done it and it shows you have knowledge of motor control circuits. Once you had filled in your workbook as above you was taken over to a whiteboard with the motor control components fixed on and you were to wire the control circuit you had drawn out with plug in leads. Once you have proved the circuit is correct and it works the assessor will put a fault on the control circuit. Mine was the start and stop connections were switched so the connections 1 & 2 became my start and 3 & 4 became my stop. You got a bell set so i found this be belling out the pin connections to the contacts. I can honestly say this is the section i dreaded most but i read all the info given and revised the drawing schematics on this thread and i can say i found it quite straight forward. There was a guy who said to the assessor i dont know anything about motors and i think he didnt get far with the drawing. I dont do much motor installation at work but i revised and found it easy so the tip is revise.

Multiple Choice Exam

This section is self explanatory. You have six sections of 4 questions where you are required to get 3 out of 4 in each section. The book for electrical calculations level 2 and 3 are highly recommended for your revision. It will also help if you can transpose equations also as there were a couple of questions where this was required and i struggled with. All equations/formulas were given at the back of your workbook.

Practical

First thing you do is do a risk assessment in your workbook of all the tasks carried out i.e safe isolation, motor, and the practical. Then you start with the Very straight forward practical installation section. Conusmer unit with a straight piece of PVC conduit to a socket outlet wired in a 2.5mm radial, lighting circuit with 2 x 2 way switches partially wired in T&E Cable clipped direct and partially in 1.5mm singles in PVC conduit. Between the switches you are to do a double set in your PVC conduit as there is a difference in height of your switches by 50mm. Practice bending PVC conduit as you do not get a vice or former you bend it over your knee. Main Earth is a mm taken from a copper pipe which is acting as your earth electrode. Once you have completed the installation you are required to test earth continuity and insulation resistance of the installation and note your readings, also stating minimum values acceptable and if it passess or fails. Then its time to power up and check you have wired your lighting circuit correctly and your switches operate correctly. Once the assessor takes measurements of the installation ensuring you have followed the drawing given you are told to disconnect the supply and strip it all out.

The day was very intense and i was bricking it but if you prepare you will walk it. The assessor was really nice and approachable and he is accompanied by a local expert which is a tutor from the college. The college tutor is the one who does the safe isolation procedure and he throws in the odd hint about making sure you test the appliance before starting and once re energized.

Sweet!! What's the course like? Shite or straightforward?

I looked at that, would be the best option but I can't afford 3 weeks off work at the minute, once you've done that do you still have to do 12 months before 'a license'?

I got told by a couple of Irish lads that are sparkles out here that Melbourne is harder than Sydney to get work sparking but I've no proof that's true once you get here just hammer the agencies, if you need any help/contacts in Sydney hit me up ??

Probably gonna get my license this year just to have it but I didn't need it to work

Came over on a 189 perm visa 2 months ago, living in Sydney, found a job after 2 1/2 weeks on the books got a van/phone job lot, working domestic/commercial, had no domestic experience before, was babbing it at first but once I got stuck in, work over here is a hell of a lot easier than back home in my opinion 

Few questions they asked

 

Where would I connect up a ballast on a fluorescent fitting to improve power factor - across L and N

 

Which 1 isn't a single phase motor - capicitor, slip ring motor, shadow phase motor, (can't remember other 1) wasn't sure of answer.

 

Work out inductors in series. - just add together

 

Name another smoke detector - ionisation.

 

Which battery charges - lithium ion

 

Ballast does what in fluorescent fitting - increase voltage during starting, decreases current on running, Improves Power factor? Not sure of answer

 

Transformer question - NP = 920, NS = 460, VP = 230 What is VS (115v)

 

 

 

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Cant tell you how much that video had helped me mate, it's the wording in the paperwork!

Not been on here for a while, missed a few questions. Sorry for anyone that asked. I've got down emails I sent a mate when I did my practical in Blackburn. If anyone who wants it lists there emails I'll send them on. I wouldn't get too worried about the practical. Easier said then done I know, but it wasn't difficult. There's a video on YouTube that helped me out work the disconnect/reconnect. It was slightly ambiguous the procedure that they gave you to use so was easier watching someone do it. I'll forward that on with emails.

They tutor at the Blackburn college helped us out when I was there. Really good guy who didn't want to see anyone fail. If you can, take your own test gear it borrow a mates. They didn't even watch me do the test on my install when I turned up with mine.

Just learn the reconnect/disconnect procedure off by heart and have a look at drawings for DOL started. Got a drawing on email that I had to draw out then connect up using banana clips.

 

Don't worry bout it, it's more a pain in the arse getting your licence when you get out here! [emoji3]

 

 

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Hi mate can you link me to that YouTube video please the wording in the vetassess paper is awful! Only 48hrs till my test!

10 20 32. Didn't get asked a values tho. How RCD works and how to test r1 + r2 .. Easy

Thanks mate, just trying to cover all my bases!!! Got my test on Tuesday

Anyone know what size breakers they use on the practical and what type so I can memorise the maximum zs values

Hi I'm struggling interpret something in the connect/disconnect part of the test, it says

Ensure that you know the minimum allowable value of insulation resistance of a conductor/s to earth/ground by your LOCAL STANDARDS

So that bit is straight forward, its just you regular insulation resistance test, minimum is 1Megohm and anything under 2 Megohm requires further investigation, its the other one....

Ensure that you know the maximum allowable value of earthing resistance of a conductor by your LOCAL STANDARDS

I'm not sure what this bit is asking for????? HELP!

Vetassess practical..........!!!!!!!!

Hi I'm struggling interpret something in the connect/disconnect part of the test, it says

Ensure that you know the minimum allowable value of insulation resistance of a conductor/s to earth/ground by your LOCAL STANDARDS

So that bit is straight forward, its just you regular insulation resistance test, minimum is 1Megohm and anything under 2 Megohm requires further investigation, its the other one....

Ensure that you know the maximum allowable value of earthing resistance of a conductor by your LOCAL STANDARDS

I'm not sure what this bit is asking for????? HELP!

Hi I'm struggling interpret something in the connect/disconnect part of the test, it says

Ensure that you know the minimum allowable value of insulation resistance of a conductor/s to earth/ground by your LOCAL STANDARDS

So that bit is straight forward, its just you regular insulation resistance test, minimum is 1Megohm and anything under 2 Megohm requires further investigation, its the other one....

Ensure that you know the maximum allowable value of earthing resistance of a conductor by your LOCAL STANDARDS

I'm not sure what this bit is asking for????? HELP!

I will send you over my revision notes, go through those, learn the disconnect/reconnect procedure off by heart, know motor circuits (all info in the notes) and if you can wire up a basic board with power and light circuit you'll be fine. They are particular about dimensions, height of switches etc....

 

Good luck!

 

Which centre you going to? UK or Oz?

 

Steve

Hi mate I'm doing it at the Blackburn one, thanks for your help, greatly appreciated!

Hi mate I'm doing it at the Blackburn one, thanks for your help, greatly appreciated!

Got some stuff I can email to help you out Geezy. Won't get time for next couple of days as we're flying to Oz on Saturday and getting last bits sorted. Send me your email adrs and I'll get some stuff sent over that I've sent other lads going for the test. One thing I would say is try not to worry about it. Easier said than done, but it really isn't that difficult. Ppl do fail on the motor connections and safe isolation, but think that's nerves more than anything.

Could you send me that stuff please mate.

Hi mate, any chance you could send me that info on the vetassess test too please, I have my test on the 19th and I'm bricking it! Thanks