Installers

The purpose of the Pre-Ignition-Prevention Technology, (or PIP Tech) is to mitigate faults caused by poor or loose connections.

These connections are subject to such higher current loadings that may result in fire. The PIP Tech system achieves this by means of specialised componentry hosted within accessory or product being protected.

PIP Technology uses temperature to detect faults. It is a well-established scientific reality to most electricians in the field, that poor connections create localised temperature rise at the location of the fault.

This is the prime tell-tale sign to activate the specialist PIP components that guard at-risk connections and joints in conjunction with an RCBO or GFCI.

With the type of installations indicated above, the most common faults occur within electrical socket outlets and the distribution boards feeding such circuits.  These boards are known in various territories by different names, i.e.in the UK- Consumer Unit, Australasia-Switchboard, India-Fuseboard, the USA and Canada Breaker Panels and so forth.

Generally, the two locations indicated above, (namely sockets and the distribution boards) are where most at-risk connections exist, i.e., there are far more sockets than any other wiring accessories, thereby more numbers more risk.

Lighting is not catered for as there is generally not sufficient loading to create heat even if there is a poor connection present, therefore PIP Technology or any provisions, are deliberately not applied to these circuits.

There are many technical ways to describe the functionality of PIP componentry, however keeping it simple for the Electrician will save time and hopefully alleviate any chance of confusion.

The componentry is located and appropriately connected within the wiring accessory at its place of original manufacture.  It is not a serviceable part, and no attempts should be made to take an accessory apart to either alter, replace or repair anything inside. If there has been thermal trauma to the product, replace the entire accessory and dispose of the original.

As with the rationale of a vehicular airbag, if nothing goes wrong, nothing will ever happen, the componentry will simply sit out of active circuit, infinitely open in its connectivity status and completely dormant.

If the componentry senses sufficient heat within the accessory or product, it will actuate into its first irreversible stage and send a small 30 milliamp pulse which lasts only for a 20^th of a second.  The pulse is applied to the resident earth connection simulating an earth leakage or imbalance device. This is a similar earth leakage to a person receiving an electric shock thereby it takes out the relevant RCBO or GFCI to prevent that local fault causing a fire.

Once the 20th of second pulse has occurred and the RCBO has tripped as a result, the componentry will only enter its second and repeatable stage if RCBO or GFCI is re-energised.

For instance, once the trip has isolated the circuit and an attempt is made to reset it, it will not permit a reinstatement of power to a faulty accessory circuit. To rectify this situation, the electrician should replace the faulty device with another PIP Equipped accessory where reinstatement will be possible.

The two-stage dynamic, (one permanent and the second repeatable) is designed to cover eventualities where a PIP Equipped wiring products or accessory may be wrongfully fitted to circuit where there is no RCBO or GFCI, or where such an imbalance device may have become faulty. The first 20th of a second pulse also prevents an online fault from remaining on the circuit should there be no corresponding tripping device. This could be due to it not being fitted or if it is fitted and faulty.

For ease of detection for the fault-finding electrician, each PIP Equipped product or accessory carries a thermochromic indicator which changes permanently from white to black when there’s been a fault condition (See pic below).

On most sockets these indicators are located underneath the clip-on front cover. In the case of European socket outlets, (CEE 7/3 and CEE 7/5) at the base of the aperture which receives the plug.