Fixed appliance Pat testing

[gutterball]

The picture of testing ir in the link shows a connection on to l & cpc. when i use my mft i croc clip l&n together on 1 probe and cpc in the other.

 

[Grizzly01]

Yeah, it does actually say the following in the text of that Seaward link:

"However, the absence of a 3 pin plug requires the use of a tester with a point to point test function and can involve other changes in test procedures. For example, care should be taken when performing an insulation resistance measurement on an item of fixed equipment and it is recommended that line and neutral connectors are linked to eliminate the risk of damage."

So, not great picture from them, then!

 

[hsharp]

Yeah, it does actually say the following in the text of that Seaward link:

"However, the absence of a 3 pin plug requires the use of a tester with a point to point test function and can involve other changes in test procedures. For example, care should be taken when performing an insulation resistance measurement on an item of fixed equipment and it is recommended that line and neutral connectors are linked to eliminate the risk of damage."

So, not great picture from them, then!

[FONT=MuseoSans500, sans-serif] [/FONT]So if I where to use a Metrel Gamma Pat Pat Tester with a safeblock would I still have to link up L + N?
If not could you describe the procedure to me, with my intended set up? Because when I am doing the practical next week we will be using the Metrel Gamma Pat Pat Tester and it will be interesting to see if he doe's go through fixed equipment and if he does, in which manner he will take

 

[Grizzly01]

A safeblock is just an easy method of being able to plug an appliance, that has no plug fitted, into the 13A socket on your PAT instrument, without having to wire up a temp 13A plug.
When the IR test is performed, your PAT instrument will link line and neutral internally, as it always does.

 

[hsharp]

Thank you Grizzly, now I am armed with a set of question for my tutor.

 

[Grizzly01]

Good luck!

 

[oldtimer]

Hi

So if I was to Pat test a Hand dryer in a school, I would have to isolate the circuit, disconnect the cable from the fused spur, connect the MFT to the lose cables and test, is this correct?

O if I did not have MFT and just a PAT tester would I be able just to fit a tempery 3 pin plug and test?

No my understanding is you are not competent or insured if you are a "PAT" tester When I did the course 2 years ago the discussion was that this was the elephant in the room and they know its a problem because one Scheme provider said well we can cobble together a short course to get these lads trained and the insurance industry said no. Hence why nobody wants to discuss it .

My view is that the insurance industry will dictate this so say they get a lot of claims in the rental sector and find some of it was from FA and then realise it is being omitted then they will insist on it and if they do "PAT" companies could have problems

 

[hsharp]

No my understanding is you are not competent or insured if you are a "PAT" tester When I did the course 2 years ago the discussion was that this was the elephant in the room and they know its a problem because one Scheme provider said well we can cobble together a short course to get these lads trained and the insurance industry said no. Hence why nobody wants to discuss it .

My view is that the insurance industry will dictate this so say they get a lot of claims in the rental sector and find some of it was from FA and then realise it is being omitted then they will insist on it and if they do "PAT" companies could have problems

No I am not a Pat tester as yet. I am doing a domestic electrician course, so hopefully I will have the knowledge that is required.

some of it was from FA! what is FA?

 

[varilite]

Hi

So if I was to Pat test a Hand dryer in a school, I would have to isolate the circuit, disconnect the cable from the fused spur, connect the MFT to the lose cables and test, is this correct?

O if I did not have MFT and just a PAT tester would I be able just to fit a tempery 3 pin plug and test?

yes thats right

 

[Grizzly01]

some of it was from FA! what is FA?

Fixed Appliance(s)?

 

[oldtimer]

no i am not a pat tester as yet. I am doing a domestic electrician course, so hopefully i will have the knowledge that is required.

Some of it was from fa! What is fa?

fixed applianced

 

[Risteard]

Yep it was never officially called PAT but someone thought it had a good ring to it

I think Seaward came up with the term "PAT testing".

 

[UNG]

4. Urban myth PAT testing companies say fixed equipment is a part of the fixed wiring so gets tested along with fixed wiring testing ie during an EICR Well no because the Schemes and colleges got caught out with this they recommend that electricians do this whilst checking the fixed wiring but there is no obligation to do it.

Does this need to be put down as a limitation on EICR to avoid any confusion

Like a guy who came on and said "I am a professional PAT tester being doing it for xx years if anybody want to tap my vast knowledge of PAT then get in touch"

How vast a knowledge can you amass of PAT testing

 

[oldtimer]

Ung forget putting this down as a limitation because it has nothing to do with I&T it is just a fudge to dodge the serious question off fixed appliance look at it this way if you have an office block then your big enough to get a "PAT" testing company to do anything with a plug on it then it is "recommended" that when you get an EICR done on the building you get them to do the fixed appliances.

Great what happens when the building gets smaller ie its not cost effective to have a PAT tester and an electrician working alongside each other or a PAT testing company hiring a electrician to do fixed appliance Emmm well no it aint going to happen so it will be ignored until say a insurance company insists on it.

I do repairs on rentals and get asked this by landlords and I explain that its their decission as the Duty Holder but if they want it done then they cannot expect the cost to stay the same as the price they have been paying to the PAT testing company.