PAT testing questions

Good questions: We will be facing the same problem. We use a PAT test system which also does some asset management as well. The system tests and automatically prints a bar coded pass sticker for the item. Each lead therefore gets a unique ID at the first test. With the first year rapidly approaching, we are considering just doing a full test again, because we found the PAT test is so quick, the visual inspection is the longest part. The current stickers show a 2 year retest date, but nothing about a visual though. So maybe it is enough to simply do a visual inspection and toss the cable back into the "In Use" box, and not record it at all, but this seems a bit wrong somehow.

Basically I too would be interested too see what answers people have.

In my company (3000+ employees) the type of PAT test is not stated on the label. Whatever the test it gets either PASS or FAIL. Labels (there should only be one) always state the retest date, not the date of test.

IEC leads are treated as individual appliances and have their own identity.

Our machines are Seaward which has a database built in but I prefer to use an old laptop at test time to maintain my records.

As a guide office eqipment is five years, workshop tools one year and for equipment used out on site the maximum is six months but can be every three months if it's starting to show its age.

We tried profiling and failure prediction from the results but personally I have not found it to provide any benifit although it was a useful excercise to find which brand had the longest service life.

The PAT test is also being expanded to include vibration testing for drills/grinders etc.

Remeber the type of test recommended is advisory and you as the tester have the final say as to which test you do and how often.

Jb

For mains leads and extensions, like you say the slow bit is the visual inspection, considering you're supposed to check the fuse and plug top wiring if accessible. If you've got to unplug it, plus you're using the PAT tester to capture the visual test result and print out the barcode label, you might as well do the full test.

IMO as a newbie PAT tester ;-)

Thanks for the comprehensive reply jb.

What Seaward kit do you have? I'm looking at the Europa Plus with the test'n'tag kit (barcode and cheapie printer) and the PatGuard Pro software. But the Megger PAT4DV/3 looks good as well.

I have three Supernova Plus machines, the Europa is a fairly new addition to their range. So far, (three years), they have been trouble free and to quote the advert 'it does exactly what it says on the tin'. I had a number of different makes on trial before purchase and all them performed OK, apart from a strange Chinese one that didn't have an English manual, (never did get it to work). Went with Seaman because we had excellent service from the six 2000 series that were to be replaced and only changed then due to changes in the PAT test requirements, mainly touch voltage testing and to avoid the need to purchase new accessories.

Jb