Throughout PAT Testing, completely different assessments are carried out relying on the Class of equipment. PAT Testing of home equipment is barely in a different way to that of power cords. This text seems to be at some examples of PAT Testing.
If the equipment doesn’t have a score plate then it’s failed immediately. The dearth of a score plate presents the tester with many issues, It’s not possible to find out the Class of the equipment, the power taken in addition to any approval requirements that the equipment has been designed to.
Home equipment with a double box image are of Class II building. On this case, simply the Insulation Resistance take a look at is carried out throughout PAT testing.
Home equipment with out the double box image are of Class I building and wish the Earth Continuity and the Insulation Resistance assessments carried out throughout PAT testing. If the equipment is in a steel enclosure, like an electric hearth or a washing machine, then it’s comparatively simple to clip the Earth Check result in a steel level. These home equipment are categorized as Class I steel.
Class I plastic home equipment are completely enclosed in plastic. It isn’t potential to hold out the earth Continuity take a look at on these home equipment as there isn’t a Earth Level to clip onto. On this case, one must just do the Insulation Resistance take a look at when PAT testing is carried out. It is very important make applicable notes as to why the earth Continuity take a look at was not carried out.
Power cords resembling Laptop IEC cables or mains extension leads want three assessments carried out on them throughout PAT testing. These are the Earth Continuity, Insulation Resistance and the Polarity take a look at. The latter take a look at checks that the Reside and Impartial wires are accurately linked.
Two core power cords shouldn’t have an earth. They’re to be used on Class II equipment. They will also be inserted both method spherical and never polarity delicate. It’s usually solely essential to hold out an inspection on these.
Check examples
It will likely be helpful at this stage to take a look at some take a look at examples. There may be an instance of the completely different lessons of equipment offered under.
Class II Check
Examination of the score plate of a drill confirms that it’s constructed to Class II requirements. I.e. It is dependent upon Double Insulation to supply the 2 layers of safety to the person. We simply want to hold out the Insulation Resistance Check throughout PAT testing.
The drill is plugged into the PAT tester. The take a look at lead is clipped onto any steel a part of the drill. The chuck is an efficient pint to clip onto. For the take a look at to be efficient, it is very important change the drill on. For this take a look at, there isn’t a mains power utilized to the drill so there isn’t a danger of the drill rotating.
On the PAT tester, one merely presses the Class II button to hold out the Insulation Resistance take a look at. As this can be a Cross/Fail PAT tester one simply information the PASS or the FAIL on the Equipment Check Report. If the PAT tester gave an precise take a look at worth then that is recorded.
Word: On the run or load out there on some PAT testers, power is utilized to the equipment. On this case care needs to be taken that the drill beginning to function doesn’t current any hazard to the individual testing.
Class I (steel) take a look at
The score plate on a Burco tea urn signifies that it doesn’t have the double box image indicating that it’s a Class I equipment. Because of this it is dependent upon a mix of insulation and an earth connection to protect the person from an electric shock. Throughout PAT testing we have to perform the Earth Continuity and Insulation Resistance take a look at.
The kettle is plugged into the PAT tester. The take a look at lead is clipped onto the heating factor contained in the kettle. If there may be lots of scaling, then rotate the clip a number of occasions for it to interrupt by this and make a superb contact with the factor.
If the kettle has a flat plate then clip onto a screw driver and use this to get a superb contact.
It is very important change the kettle on earlier than finishing up this take a look at. For this take a look at, there isn’t a mains power utilized to the kettle so there isn’t a danger of the kettle working.
On the PAT tester, one merely presses the Class I button to hold out the Earth Continuity and Insulation Resistance assessments. As this can be a Cross/Fail tester one simply information the PASS or the FAIL on the Equipment Check Report. If the tester gave an precise take a look at worth then that is recorded.
Word: On the run or load out there on some PAT testers, power is utilized to the equipment. On this case care needs to be taken so as to add some water to the kettle to stop the safety cut-out from working.
Class I (plastic) take a look at
The score plate of an electric fan clearly signifies that it’s a Class I home equipment. Not solely is the double box image lacking, however there’s a clear warning stating that the equipment have to be earthed. Because of this we have to perform the Earth Continuity and Insulation Resistance assessments throughout PAT testing Mensa IQ Test.
Nevertheless, so as to perform the Earth Continuity take a look at one must clip onto a steel a part of the equipment. As this fan is totally coated by plastic, there isn’t a place to clip this lead onto. Because of this once we attempt to perform the Earth Continuity take a look at the equipment will fail.
It is very important respect that as this equipment is Class I and is totally coated in plastic it’s truly quite a bit safer than Class I (steel) home equipment. If the dwell wire contained in the equipment had been to return unfastened, the person continues to be protected by a layer of plastic insulation.
The beneficial strategy to deal with a Class I (plastic) equipment is to hold out simply the Insulation Resistance take a look at. If this can be a PASS, then the equipment is handed with a word to state that the Earth Continuity take a look at couldn’t be achieved as a result of plastic building.
On the PAT tester there’s a devoted Class I (plastic) button. When that is pressed simply the Insulation Resistance is carried out.
Testing Power Cords
Many trendy testers have a useful power wire testing function. All one has to do is to plug each ends of the cable into the PAT tester and press the Power Twine button to hold out the take a look at. The tester will perform the Earth Continuity, Insulation Resistance and Polarity take a look at and show a PASS or a FAIL.
This take a look at can simply be adopted to check mains extension leads with the usage of a short (20 to 30 cm) IEC lead. A short lead is used to maintain the resistance that it provides to the measurement as little as potential.
That is plugged into the mains extension lead and likewise into the PAT tester. Now when the Power Twine button is pressed the Earth Continuity, Insulation Resistance and Polarity assessments are carried out and a PASS or FAIL is displayed. It is very important take a look at all 4 sockets within the extension lead.