Competency Needs for High Voltage Switching

What is HV Switching?

Is it as simple as turning on the switch gang in house?

No. there is an arc when switch on/off for high voltage. There is need for equipment such as switchgear and circuit breaker.

Switchgear - GIS

In West Malaysia under Energy Commission, competent person are able to conduct switching whereas in Sarawak under Electrical Inspectorate Unit, authorised person can perform switching with the condition that he/she attends the switching course.

 In Sarawak, there are two types of HV switching:

1. Restricted - To the premise / installation only

2. Open - All installation within Sarawak

There is a course conducted by West Malaysia company, Chargeman H1 simulator. This course teaches on switching procedure for switchgear. There is case study for troubleshooting.

Switching procedure

For information, there is an arrangement make by EIU, a person can have switching without pre-requisite of having any electrical competency. It will be placed as switching category in Chargeman, ES or CEE certificate.

 

Chargeman certificate switching only

However, in order to be open switching. A person needs to attend 5 switching at own installation and 2 at utility installation.

Once the person resign or retired from the company. His/Her competency on switching category will be revoked. If he/she wants to keep the switching, he/she needs to have competency in HV category and perform at least 1 switching at utility installation.

For ST requirement

For EIU requirement

SEB switching course 11kV

Chargeman L1 Course

Sharing

I attended CH L1 course at IKM Kuching recently, it is very interesting.

Goal

This course gives knowledge of building electrical operation and the correct procedures of handling main switchboard (fault troubleshooting & supply restoration), and other building related services such as aircon system, fire fighting system, motor starter and so on.

Duration

15 weekdays (Mon to Fri) or 6 weekends (Sat & Sun), or, 3 months.

Theory syllabus as per Electrical Inspector Unit (EIU) requirements:

• Electricity Ordinance
• Electricity Rules 1999
• IEE Wiring Regulations
• Fire Fighting
• Protection Equipment In Low Voltage Installation
• Electrical Basic
• Transformer
• Cables
• Underground Cables
• Motor & Controlling Equipment
• Battery
• Measurement and Testing Equipment
• Air-conditioner
• Main Switchboard Equipment Checking
• Consumer Installations
• Street Lighting
• Grid Connected Photovoltaic (PV) System
• Real hands-on practical

 Group photo: 

Photo slide show:

MSB Procedure

Electrical Services Engineer (ESE)

ESE

1. Perform testing and commissioning of substation, high voltage level from 11kV onward till 500kV.

2. Highest level of competency in Certificate of Competency.

3. At least one year experience as Competent Electrical Engineer.

4. Injection / pressure test on MSB, primary and secondary.

5. Usually only a few person has highest voltage level in Malaysia.

6. Good paid, become businessman.

Sarawak

There is around 20 person have the letter of authorisation to perform testing and commission in low voltage and high voltage.

Low voltage: Switchboard

High voltage: Substation

ESE in Sarawak is issued by letter. The letter is subject to yearly renewal. For high voltage, the requirement is exactly the same as a ESE.

1. The person needs to be professional engineer recognised by BEM.

2. The person needs to be a competent electrical engineer at EIU.

3. The person needs to have experience in testing.

4. Person with experience in SESCO has added advantages, those with CAAC non-employee in testing with designated voltage level is easier to obtain this letter.

5. The person can used the route from SESCO by applying CAAC certificate in testing, which needs to go through interview with their panels.

275kV

Those with 275kV testing is limited which is around 5 persons only.

 

Content of the Letter

Requirement of ESE Suruhanjaya Tenaga