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Gone are those times when the companies and the organisations didn't need a hi-tech system to handle them. Owing to the considerable increase in the business sector and thus, an enormous increase in the complexity of the organisational struc ----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website,offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as longas no changes a
What is portable appliance testing?Portable appliance testing, also known as PAT testing, isthe inspection and testing of 'portable' electrical appliances. This is doneboth visually, using your eyes, and electronically using a dedicated PATtester. The reason for carrying out portable appliance testing is to ensure, asfar as is practically possible, the safe working condition of the electricalequipment used by yourself, your staff or your customers. What is portable electrical equipment?Portable electrical equipment is, in a nutshell, anyelectrical appliance which has a plug attached. This includes computers,laptops and monitors. Hair dryers and hair straighteners. Microwave ovens,kettles and toasters. Electronic tills and weighing scales and so on. Can I do the PAT testing myself?Yes. The regulations state that only a 'competent' personneeds to carry out the testing. Although the regulations do not clarify what'competent' means, it is safe to assume the person doing the testing knows howto safely wire a standard British mains plug and have a good idea of what ampfuse should be fitted. Do I need to test every appliance?No. Appliances which are battery operated do not needtesting. Also, appliances with a low power consumption, i.e. those with a mainsadaptor or transformer with a power output of less than 50 volts AC such as atelephone, DAB radio, external hard drive, etc. However any part of theelectrical system that is subjected to 240v AC, should be tested How can I tell if an appliance is damaged?More often than not, if it looks damaged, it is damaged. 95percent of all electrical faults are discovered simply by looking. You need tocheck the plug to make sure it is correctly wired and there are no signs ofover heating such as burns or scorch marks. You need to check the entire lengthof the cable to make sure it is not damaged in any way, and the casing shouldbe checked for signs of damage, including cracked or missing parts and sighs ofoverheating. What should I do if an appliance is damaged?If you find an appliance is damaged you should remove itfrom use. To further ensure that a potentially dangerous item cannot be used,remove the plug. Appliances can often be repaired, and an electrical engineershould be able to advise you as to whether an appliance should be repaired orreplaced. Are there any benefits of using a qualified testingengineer?Yes. A qualified testing engineer with experience ofportable appliance testing can usually complete the task far quicker and withless disruption to your normal daily activities than a 'competent' member ofstaff. A qualified testing engineer will also have a PAT testing device usedfor checking for faults which cannot be visually identified such as earthing,polarity and resistance issues.
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