PAT Testing

[Innominata]

Hi Guys, I am taking the first steps in going down the self employed route,and have been offered work by a friend doing PAT testing.I do hold the PAT cert and have tested for companies in the past.I own a multifunctional tester which I have done periodics with.Do I have to purchase a tester for PAT testing and also how do I charge? is it by the hour or the item and what is the going rate.Would appreciate any advice.Thanks

 

[monkeyelectric]

Hi Guys, I am taking the first steps in going down the self employed route,and have been offered work by a friend doing PAT testing.I do hold the PAT cert and have tested for companies in the past.I own a multifunctional tester which I have done periodics with.Do I have to purchase a tester for PAT testing and also how do I charge? is it by the hour or the item and what is the going rate.Would appreciate any advice.Thanks

You can pat test with a multifunction but if you're planning on doing a lot its best to buy a purpose built one, you generally charge per item but it depends on the number of items you're doing in one place, i've seen adverts for 50p an item but minimum 1000 units my local hire shop charges £9 an item so varies a great deal, i personally would not touch pat testing with a barge pole its boring as sin

 

[Deleted member 9648]

Two consecutive days pat testing is about as much as I can stomach before losing the will to live....probablly up there with watching paint dry....i'ts all work though. There can be a plus side.......crawling around under a desk to retrieve a computer lead....secretaries in short skirts !!
You should use a pukka pat tester though,a multifunction will not do an earth bond test.

 

[andyb]

You do an earth bond test with the tester set on ohms as you would for continuity.

 

[Anonomoose]

I was considering this last month. I have a few companies that i work for that need it so bought an Ethos one (think its CEF's own brand) for just under £400. I have done the PAT testing for the companies i needed to. About 40 items each so i charged £3.50 per item, told them to have them ready to be tested. they were fantastic had every item out and marked up what it was (some had strange names) took a couple of hours each company. so worked out about £70 per hour. obviously wont see much profit till the tester is paid for.

I can understand it gets boring but if you do what i did its not bad for easy money.

 

[Firebucket]

Saw these this the other day, might make sence adding it to your multi tester as a cheap way out?

Kewtech PATADAPTOR1: Convert 17th Edition - PAT Adaptor 1 - 17th Edition Test Meters - 17th Edition Accessories - Kewtech PAT Adaptor 1 - Test Meters and Electrical Test Equipment Supplier - Test and Measuring Meters

Cheers

Duncan

 

[Anonomoose]

Saw these this the other day, might make sence adding it to your multi tester as a cheap way out?

Kewtech PATADAPTOR1: Convert 17th Edition - PAT Adaptor 1 - 17th Edition Test Meters - 17th Edition Accessories - Kewtech PAT Adaptor 1 - Test Meters and Electrical Test Equipment Supplier - Test and Measuring Meters

Cheers

Duncan

I bought one of these before my proper PAT tester. not very good im afraid.

 

[Firebucket]

I bought one of these before my proper PAT tester. not very good im afraid.

Sorry don't want to hijack the thread but what was crappy about them Moosey?

Cheers

Duncan

 

[Anonomoose]

Sorry don't want to hijack the thread but what was crappy about them Moosey?

Cheers

Duncan

Was hard to use, carrying it and the megger with leads attached round with me. the instructions were not that clear to me anyway. A more experienced person would probably be able to use it. anyone who wants it can have mine. used once. £15

Bargain.

 

[Deleted member 9648]

You do an earth bond test with the tester set on ohms as you would for continuity.

No you cant, the required earth bond test is carried out at twice the rated current of the fuse...ie 26 amps for a 13a fuse. Yes you can do a continuity test with a multifunction but that is not the same as an earth bond test carried out with a PAT tester.

 

[Des 56]

If you had an appliance with one strand left of the earth core,a continuity test may give you the thumbs up,but the high current test would show this up most likely

Saying that Ive never owned a pat tester in my life
The going rate for buying one is gigantic compared to the feeble money thats made

 

[OMEGA PAT Ltd]

Two consecutive days pat testing is about as much as I can stomach before losing the will to live....probablly up there with watching paint dry....i'ts all work though. There can be a plus side.......crawling around under a desk to retrieve a computer lead....secretaries in short skirts !!
You should use a pukka pat tester though,a multifunction will not do an earth bond test.

Experience has shown me that Electricians hate PAT. My suggestion is to find a dedicated PAT company who will do the job for you. They will also charge you a price that will allow you to make money out of the contract. Oh, by the way, I run one of those companies but we are geared up for corporate clients. If this is your sphere, give me a call or look at my website Omega PAT - Portable Appliance Testing

 

[Sintra]

Omega had a look at your site and was wondering what mains wiring test for error-free indication of socket status actually involves.

 

[OMEGA PAT Ltd]

Omega had a look at your site and was wondering what mains wiring test for error-free indication of socket status actually involves.

Essentially, it is a simple test using a plug-in socket tester (martindale do some that buzz for sockets that are difficult to get to). The item will tell you of faults like phase neutral reverse, etc etc. We do this as standard as most clients do their periodic once every five years and, in some cases, remedial works or new socket installations have come up faulty.
Example- large solicitor of 2000+ employees - we found four floor boxes that had no earth. Hope this helps. By the way, the test only takes as long as putting in a plug and pulling it out. Sorry, did not mean to teach my grandmother to suck eggs. Am so used to having to explain things to no electricians

 

[Johno]

I think we all need to remember that even though we are all electricians, our everyday work work varies alot!