Is it knackered?

[fermec]

Hi.
During a PAT test at my Brothers hotel the other day, his twin induction portable hotplate failed its PAT test because the earth leakage test showed up at 4.5 Ma. Having done some reading I understand the upper limit is 3.5? Anyway this thing is about 18 months old, has hardly been used due to kitchen rebuild so has been in storage, and is otherwise in perect nick. Even after switching it on and letting it heat up for a half hour to get rid of moisture didn't help. Is it knackered or can it be saved? Or is the PAT test being a bit overzealous?

Appreciate any help.

 

[telectrix]

what's Ma? and the limit to pass an appliance is 1 Megohm. anything ovedr that is OK.

edit: re-reading your post, i think you mean that the appliance has a leakage current of 4.5mA. that equates to around 5 Megohms, so can't see the problem.

 

[ian.settle1]

what's Ma? and the limit to pass an appliance is 1 Megohm. anything ovedr that is OK.

edit: re-reading your post, i think you mean that the appliance has a leakage current of 4.5mA. that equates to around 5 Megohms, so can't see the problem.

His mum possibly

 

[brman]

what's Ma? and the limit to pass an appliance is 1 Megohm. anything ovedr that is OK.

edit: re-reading your post, i think you mean that the appliance has a leakage current of 4.5mA. that equates to around 5 Megohms, so can't see the problem.

err... according to my calculator 4.5mA is 51k ohms.......

 

[Grizzly01]

Indeed, 51 kΩ, which would be too low.

I'm assuming that the hotplate had already passed the IR test, with a result of at least 1.0 MΩ, before the leakage test was run?

 

[telectrix]

err... according to my calculator 4.5mA is 51k ohms.......

correct. i blame fat fingers and theakston's OP.

 

[fermec]

Yes my aplologies for getting my 'M's and 'A's mixed up. I meant a reading of 4.5mA. Other readings were fine and dandy - just this one caused the machine to register a 'Fail'
So if we assume this is the only problem - is the general opinion that this thing is safe to use? I bow to your superior knowledge! And thanks for all your info thus far.

 

[Grant Naylor]

Tried running tests again after its been running for a while?

 

[fermec]

They did Grant but we'll try that again. Thanks

 

[brman]

I'm not a PAT expert but if it stays at greater than 3.5mA I would fail it as I suspect 4.5mA would give you a noticable tingle if you have a faulty earth. (from my experience 10mA is about where it starts to get unpleasant......)

The only get out I can see in the code of practice is that you can double the limit if "All control devices have an off postion with a contact opening of at least 3mm and disconnection in each pole".

 

[Dizzy_Maskell]

If it's outside tolerance then it has failed in a hotel is it worth taking a risk call manufacturers and ask them for advise maybe but it needs to pass the correct tolerance if he wants to use it in a public place.