User-friendly PAT Testing equipment can provide electricians with a new business opportunity, says Steve Dunning, Managing Director of Martindale Electric.
In accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989), any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury must be maintained in a safe condition. Designed to help raise the standards of electrical safety in the workplace, Portable Appliance Testing ensures that electrical appliances and equipment that have been classified as “portable” are safe to use.
As an electrician you may carry out installations in offices, schools, hospitals and other places of work. If that is the case then Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) may provide you with a new business opportunity. If you’re already providing electrical services in a workplace, then asking your client who carries out their testing will be straightforward and could potentially lead to more work for you.
Choice of testers
User-friendly PAT equipment, software and training is available to make the job easier, safer and faster. For instance, the HPAT Series of portable appliance testers enables competent people to quickly and safely verify the electrical safety of all types of appliances.
Designed to perform safety checks in accordance with the IET Code of Practice, these lightweight rechargeable handheld testers are designed for ease of use, with one button automatic testing and clear connection details shown on the tester.
The small lightweight design and one button operation make the HPATs ideal for testing in all locations, be it under a desk or behind a monitor. The bright backlit display provides a clear pass/fail indication.
For more demanding PAT applications, sophisticated testers are available which incorporate a greater range of tests and have the ability to store the test results for later recall on-screen, such as the HPAT600.
For downloading results to a PC in order to manage assets and re-test requirements, Martindale offers the MPAT Plus with MPATSUITE software.
To keep running costs down and to ensure that no time is lost due to flat batteries, a good solution is to choose a battery powered rechargeable PAT tester which can also operate from a mains power supply, such as the HPAT500 and 600. The capability to easily test mains leads and extension leads is essential and it’s useful to have connection instructions either on-screen or on the tester as a reminder of what to do when used infrequently.
Take the quiz!
Martindale has put together a fun online quiz that tests your knowledge on PAT Testing and helps gauge where there may be gaps in your understanding. Martindale has also launched a dedicated ‘Essential Guide to PAT Testing’ area of its website crammed with useful information, hints, tips and an overview of its popular HPAT series of PAT Testers.
To test your knowledge click here
To access the essential guide to PAT testing click here
