PAT TESTING INFORMATION
PAT Testing Examples
During PAT Testing, different tests are carried out depending on the Class of equipment. PAT Testing of appliances is slightly differently to that of power cords. This article looks at some examples of PAT Testing.
PAT Testing Power Cords
Most modern PAT testers have a handy IEC lead test facility. All one has to do during PAT Testing is to plug in both ends of the lead and test Earth Continuity, Insulation Resistance and Polarity.
One aspect of electrical appliances that tends to cause a lot of confusion is the question "What fuse should this appliance have?" In this article, we look at fuses in detail and give guidelines on how to work out the correct fuse for the appliance.
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Frequently asked questions about PAT Testing
This test is carried out on all Class I appliances during PAT Testing. The purpose of the test is to check that there is a good connection between the Earth pin on the plug and the case of the appliance. A good connection is defined as having a resistance of less than 0.1 ohms (or 100 milli-ohms).
This test is carried out on Class I and Class II appliances during PAT Testing. The purpose of this test is to ensure that there is adequate insulation between the Live parts of the appliances and the user touchable metal parts. Adequate insulation is defined as greater than 1 M ohm for Class I appliances and 2 M ohm for Class II appliances.
Electrical appliances start off perfectly safe, but with use can deteriorate to an extent where there is a risk of an electric shock or a fire. Just as regular MOT checks ensure the safety of cars on the road, Portable Appliance Testing (or PAT to use the popular acronym) ensures that electrical appliances continue to be safe to use.
Bill, owner/manager of a 40-room Hotel currently spends some £800 a year on a sub-contractor to carry out Portable Appliance Testing. The testing takes place over 2 days and gaining access to all the rooms can cause problems. He wants to investigate the possibility of this being done in-house to reduce costs and allow flexibility in the timing of the tests. However he is keen not to fall foul of the regulations.
Books on PAT Testing from First Stop Safety.
It is important to inspect and carry out PAT Testing on used electrical appliances prior to offering them for resale. In addition to this there are other precautions that need to be taken and these are presented in this chapter.
In addition to PAT Testing microwave ovens need to be tested for leakage as well as heating power. Details on carrying out these tests are presented in this chapter.
Wiring a plug is not difficult but you would be surprised how often people get it wrong. A wrongly wired (or fused) plug puts everyone at risk from electric shock or fire. Eight simple steps to a well wired plug:
A new in depth, one day PAT testing workshop is proving a hit with delegates who have been able to use the skills learnt on the course to win new clients and generate additional income for their businesses.
HEALTH & SAFETY EXECUTIVE