Ultimate Guide to Electrical Commissioning and Testing Best Practices
- Hüseyin GÜZEL
- Jun 29
- 4 min read
The reliability of any system depends on both the electrical equipment and the way it is interconnected. This handbook provides guidelines for testing electrical systems in accordance with National Grid standards. It is assumed that all individual equipment has already undergone comprehensive and detailed testing prior to the start of system commissioning...
Generally, the original procurement specifications for the equipment include standard testing procedures for the system components covered in this commissioning handbook. In addition to the testing methods outlined here, the manufacturer’s recommended standards and procedures must also be strictly followed.
Electrical systems consist of various components, although certain tests are common across all equipment.
This manual compiles general procedures and detailed guidelines to verify the condition and readiness of equipment. These are developed based on international standards and must be strictly followed in accordance with project drawings, as well as the operation and maintenance manuals provided by the equipment manufacturer. The procedures include component-specific checks, inspections, and testing requirements to confirm the equipment’s condition and suitability for service.
Furthermore, this handbook provides comprehensive guidance on electrical testing, including checklists, testing criteria, test forms, and circuit connection diagrams required for testing activities. All test procedures and results are documented for review and future comparison with maintenance test outcomes.
This document serves as a guide for field commissioning personnel, enabling them to apply consistent and rigorous testing methods in line with SEC Transmission Construction Standards.
The purpose of this handbook is to support commissioning personnel in efficiently carrying out pre-commissioning activities in compliance with SEC standards and specifications, ensuring that all equipment is properly tested and verified before being placed into service.
Handbook Contents:
GIS and Switchgear:
GIS EHV & HV Circuit Breaker Tests
GIS EHV & HV Disconnect Switch Tests
HV and Partial Discharge test on GIS Switchgear
GIS Circuit Breaker Pole Discrepancy Scheme Check
13.8kV Switchgear Circuit Breaker Tests
13.8kV Switchgear Earthing Switch Tests
13.8kV Busbar Switchgear Tests
13.8kV Switchgear HV Tests
Switchgear Ring Main Unit Tests
Surge Arrester Tests
Circuit Breaker Mechanism Tests
Current Transformer (CT):
CT Insulation testing
CT Turns Ratio Test
CT Excitation (Kneepoint)
CT Winding Resistance Test
CT Voltage Withstand Test
CT Polarity Check
Voltage Transformer (VT):
VT Insulation testing
VT Turns Ratio Test
VT Excitation (Knee-point)
VT Winding Resistance Test
VT Voltage Withstand Test
Power Transformer:
Measurement of Winding Insulation Resistance
Measurement of Core and Frame Insulation at 1kV DC
Winding Resistance Test
Excitation Current(No Load) Test
Short Circuit(%Z) Test
Zero Sequence Impedance Test
Turns Ratio Test
Magnetic Balance Test
Vector Group Test
Tan Delta Test
Oil Dielectric Breakdown Test
Calibration of Oil & Winding Temperature Sensors
Cooling Fan Tests
Supervision Equipment Functional Checks
On-Load Tap Changer MDU Check & Current Consumption
Frequency Response Analysis
Grounding Transformer:
GT Measurement of Winding Insulation Resistance
Measurement of Core and Frame Insulation at 1kV DC
Winding Resistance Test
Calibration of Oil and Winding Temperature Sensors
Tan Delta Test
Oil Dielectric Breakdown Test
Impedance Measurement
Supervision Equipment Functional Checks
Cooling Fan Tests
Shunt Reactor:
Measurement of Winding Insulation Resistance
Measurement of Core and Frame Insulation at 1kV DC
Winding Resistance Test
Calibration of Oil and Winding Temperature Sensors
Tan Delta Test
Oil Dielectric Breakdown Test
Impedance Measurement
Supervision Equipment Functional Checks
Cooling Fan Tests
Capacitor Bank Testing & Commissioning
Static VAR Compensation System Commissioning
Automatic Voltage Regulator(AVR):
AVR – Control Panel Scheme Check and Function
AVR – Relay Configuration, Bandwidth and Timer Check
AVR – Relay Blocking Protection Function Tests
AVR – Digital Voltmeter
Battery Bank and Battery Charger:
Battery Bank and Unit Testing
Battery Charger Testing
Battery Charger Testing – Functional Checks
AC Distribution Panel (ACDB):
ACDB Panels – MCB and MCCB Tests
ACDB Panels – Auxiliary Relays and Timers Test
ACDB Panels – Other Component Test
ACDB Panels – LV Automatic Transfer Switching Scheme Tests
ACDB Panels – LV Automatic Transfer Switch Phase sequence Check and Phasing test
DC Distribution Panel (DCDB):
DCDB Panels – MCB and MCCB Tests
DCDB Panels – Auxiliary Relays and Timers Test
DCDB Panels – Other Component Test
Transmission line and Power Cables:
Phase Checking for Conductor & Sheath Test(@ 10kV DC)
Capacitance and Insulation Resistance Measurement
Conductivity and Continuity Test for Transmission Line Conductors
Phase conductor insulation resistance test for Transmission Line
Susceptance Test for Transmission Line
Verification of Cross Bonding Test At Link Boxes
Power Cable High Voltage Test
Phase Checking for Transmission Line Conductors
DC Conductor Resistance Earth Resistance Measurement
SVL Insulation Resistance and Contact Resistance Test on Link Boxes
Zero, Positive, & Negative Sequence Impedance Test
Zero Sequence and Positive Sequence Impedance Tests for Transmission Lines
Meters:
Testing & Commissioning of AMI
Testing & Commissioning of Analog or Digital Meters
Protection Relays:
Line & Cable Differential Protection Relay (87L_87C) Commissioning
Circuit Breaker Fail (CBF) Protection Relay (50_62) Commissioning
Bus Bar Protection Stability & Sensitivity Test
Transformer Differential Protection relay (87T) Commissioning and Testing
Transformer Differential Protection Stability & Sensitivity Test
Reactor Differential Protection relay (87R) Commissioning and Testing
Reactor Differential Protection Stability & Sensitivity Test
Directional Negative Phase Sequence Overcurrent Relay (67Q) Test
Directional Overcurrent and Earth Fault Protection relay (67_67N) Commissioning
Over and Under Voltage Relay Test
Restricted Earth Fault Protection Stability and Sensitivity Test
Distance, Impedance Protection Relay (21) Commissioning
Overcurrent, Undercurrent and Earth Fault Relay Test
Over and Under Frequency Relay Test
Trip Circuit Supervision Relay
Synchronism Check (25) Relay Test
Lock-out Relay(86) Test
Auto-Recloser(79) Test
CT Supervision Relay
High Impedance Busbar Relay Test
Capacitor Bank Protection Relay Test
High Impedance Differential(87TEE) Relay Test
Trip Coil Relay(94) Test
End to End
Scheme Check:
Scheme Check – General Instructions
Automatic Bus Transfer System Scheme Check (ABTS)
Automatic Capacitor Control Scheme Check (ACCS)
Equipment Scheme
Substation Automation System (SAS):
Prerequisite Work Instruction to start SAS Commissioning
SAS Fiber Optic Cable Testing
SAS Function Check of All Peripheral Devices
SAS Measurement Testing
SAS Engineering Workstation (EWS) Testing
SAS Ethernet Switches Testing
SAS Redundancy Testing
SAS Gateways Testing
SAS GPS Testing
SAS IED’s Testing
Maintenance Laptop Testing
Operating Workstation Testing
SAS Panels Inspection & Testing
SAS Servers Testing
SAS Function Testing
SAS Overall Interlocking Testing
Final Trip Test
Relays Final Settings Review for EHV, HV, MV & SVC
Normalization Before Energization
Energization
Document: | Electrical Commissioning and Testing Handbook – Khalid Hassan Gharib AND Enrique L. Labrador at Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – National Grid, Commissioning Services Department |
Format: | |
Size: | 33.1 MB |
Pages: | 184 |
Download: |
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