Check for overloaded cables?

[tgd241]

The voltage at the CU should be known, let's say 230V. A diagnostic tool plugged into a socket should be capable of drawing a known, fixed current and measuring the voltage at the socket, giving a voltage drop and resistance of the cables. If you also give it an estimate of the cable length, this should tell you whether the resistance is within acceptable limits, no? Furthermore, the tool should be able to detect if the resistance is constant over time , or increases in a manner consistent with and overheating cable somewhere.

So let's say you plug this tool in an every socket, and have it draw as close as possible to the rated current of the circuit at every socket. If you're not getting a rising resistance or as long as the resistance plateaus at some acceptable value, all is well in theory?

I should add that I wasn't intending to DIY this test using basic instruments like a voltmeter, ammeter etc. I assume this would be far too error prone. The post above was to explain why I thought it should be possible in theory, therefore some purpose built tool for it should exist ? However from the responses so far it doesn't appear that it does exist.

 

[bernardgreen]

If the cable is overloaded then the MCB ( or fuse ) will operate and cut the power before the cable becomes too hot.

That is what happens in an installation that was properly designed and properly installed, and has not been modified by an unqualified person

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

That is what happens in an installation that was properly designed and properly installed, and has not been modified by an unqualified person

Exactly, which was why I suggested on page 1 of this thread...

An electrical installation relies heavily, on who ever does the installation, to understand the regulations, and to apply them using common sense.