Steve Dunning, Managing Director of Martindale Electric, looks at Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) and why it’s important wholesaler customers get it right.

Every year, a significant number of electrical accidents, many involving portable appliances, are reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK. This statistic underscores the critical importance of Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) in maintaining workplace safety.

Under the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989), any electrical equipment with the potential to cause injury must be kept in a safe condition. Additionally, the Fifth Edition of the IET Code of Practice, while advocating for risk assessments to minimise unnecessary testing, still mandates that PAT be conducted by a competent person. This requirement ensures the highest standards of electrical safety are maintained, which is vital for wholesalers to convey to their customers.

Understanding the broad spectrum of devices that fall under PAT regulations is crucial. Portable appliances include anything that uses a flexible cable or plug and socket, encompassing a wide range of equipment from hand-held tools to fixed appliances like kettles and hairdryers in commercial settings. Testing these types of appliances for safety is essential in preventing accidents and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

Wholesalers can play a pivotal role in promoting electrical safety through the products they supply and the knowledge they can impart at the trade counter. The selection of PAT testing equipment is a significant decision, and the Martindale HPAT Series, for example, is easy to use, efficient and represents the latest in portable testing technology. These devices, designed for testing on-site, are essential tools for upholding safety standards in various operational environments.

Along with user-friendly PAT equipment, Martindale also provides wholesalers and their customers with plenty of insights and information to help them carry out testing to the required level. Even if your customers are experienced users of portable appliance testers, they still might end up making one of these common mistakes, including:

1. Not doing a visual inspection

Any signs of damage and dents/scratches on the casing should be reported. If the cable shows signs of wear or is not plugged in properly, this should also be recorded, as it could indicate that the appliance is unsafe.

2. Not doing the tests in the required order

If you do the insulation test first on a Class 1 appliance, you don’t know if the conductive earth path is good. (In Class 1 appliances, most PATs use the earth wire as the return signal path, so you don’t need a probe for the insulation test.)  If the earth path isn’t tested and proven good, you can’t rely on the insulation test

3. Forgetting to switch the appliance on

Think about the situation where the live wire is broken inside the appliance and touching the outer casing. When you do the insulation test, everything inside the appliance should be at 250V/500V. The tester detects any voltage escaping to the appliance housing. But if you haven’t switched it on, the voltage can’t get through the live wire, nothing will escape, and you could have an incorrect pass on a dangerous appliance.

4. Touching the appliance

The truth is most appliances pass the insulation test, so you get into the habit of holding drills, etc., to make it easier to hold the probe in contact. Then, one day, the appliance insulation fails, and… you get a shock, which is not dangerous in itself but could cause a reaction resulting in harm.

5. Only doing one earth bond test

Many of the most experienced testers fall for this. If an appliance has multiple, apparently isolated outer parts with separate earthed paths, each must be measured separately.

6. Taking an average reading

If you have multiple earth paths, don’t take the average reading – it’s the worst case that matters.

7. Trying to do an earth bond test on a Class II appliance

It will, of course, fail, as Class II appliances have no earth. This is a very common problem and causes a large number of calls to technical helplines.

8. Only doing one insulation test

For the same reason in 5 above, this is a common fault. At how many places on a power tool could the insulation break down? Obviously, at the chuck, but what about the ventilation slots, the trigger, the assembly screws, and the speed control? The best solution is to wrap the device in kitchen foil and test it once on the foil (you can buy special conductive bags, but foil is cheaper).

9. Not checking the fuse is conducting (see point 3 above)

You don’t have to do a separate fuse test – the operation test will prove that the appliance is both on and the fuse is okay.

10. Failing to do a function test (powering it up)

Some entry-level PATs don’t have the ability to power up the appliance. Plug the appliance into the wall socket (after PAT testing) and make sure it works properly.

11. Not testing at the correct voltage

It is very common for people to make the mistake of performing a 500V test on surge protection extension leads. These require a lower voltage 250V test. This is especially helpful when testing appliances with surge-protected circuits, such as sensitive IT equipment, at 250V.

12. Not calculating the correct pass level

Many appliances are plugged into longer power cables than those specified by the manufacturer. The current pass level for an appliance with a longer power cable is calculated differently than the pass level for an appliance with a shorter power cable. This can be determined by a calculation available in the PAT code of practice.

Getting PAT right is crucially important and electrical wholesaler trade counter staff and their customers can find more useful information and downloads at the Martindale website, visit here

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The EZ156 and EZ365 Advanced Socket Testers from Martindale Electric have been crowned a Professional Electrician & Installer 2023 ‘Top Product’ award winner.

The awards are recognition for those manufacturers and suppliers that have made a real difference to the electrical contractor’s ability to get the job done efficiently, safely and professionally, whether this is in the form of innovative products, tools or time-saving solutions.

“We are delighted that we have been recognised by Professional Electrician and its readers in this way,” says Steve Dunning, Martindale Electric’s Managing Director.

The EZ165 and EZ365 detect 32 basic fault conditions and check the mains voltage level too. Both models also show how safe the earth wiring is by carrying out a non-trip earth loop test and indicating its value in six discrete ranges. A low earth resistance is essential for safety disconnection devices to work properly and prevent electrocution when faults occur.

“Our annual awards are a great way to reward those companies that have come up with excellent ideas to help electrical installers and businesses overcome common problems in their everyday work, to improve their workmanship, or to open up new profit streams,” said PE Editor, Richard Bowler.

“As such, these new advanced socket testers from Martindale Electric, released earlier in the year, are a very worthy winner of one of our 2023 Top Product awards.”

For related articles, click here

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Steve Dunning, Managing Director of Martindale Electric, explains how wholesalers can help their customers stay safe around electricity.

A few years ago, Martindale Electric launched the ALIVE campaign, a memorable safe isolation procedure to help reduce electricity-related injuries and fatalities in the workplace.

In creating our “ALIVE” message, we distinguish between good working practice (to complement our complete 12 step approach) and the five vital steps that absolutely must be carried out for your own protection and to prevent loss of life.

ALIVE stands for:

• Approved kit – Before starting, make sure your equipment meets all legal safety standards (BS EN61243-3).
• Lock out – Identify the point of isolation, lock it off and place warning tags onto the equipment.
• Initial Prove – Test your Voltage Indicator (VI) against the proving unit to make sure it is working properly.
• Voltage test – Use your VI to confirm dangerous voltage levels are not in the circuit you are about to work on.
• Ensure – Prove and retest the VI against the proving unit to ensure it is functioning before working on the circuit.

For electrical wholesalers, stocking a good range of safety equipment and safety accessories, such as Lock Off kits and Proving Devices alongside standard electrical test equipment, helps customers stay safe and adhere to the ALIVE message.

The heart of the ALIVE campaign is the use of proving devices, which play a pivotal role in the safety process. These devices are essential in validating the functionality of voltage indicators, test lamps and meters. By using a suitable proving device both before and after using these instruments, electricians ensure that they are working correctly, complying with the stringent Electricity at Work Regulations.

Plus four

Martindale Electric has introduced four new proving units to its range, designed to streamline the safety verification process for electrical professionals. The new Proving Units – PD230SRD, PD440SRD, PD440SRDX, and PD690SRD – are fast and easy to use, offering instant test voltage for both high and low impedance voltage indicators, test lamps and meters.

One of the key features of these proving units is their versatility. They provide AC/DC output, which can be easily selected via a push-button switch, and offer stepped voltage outputs that match two-pole tester thresholds. This flexibility is essential, as it allows electricians to match the proving unit’s output voltage with the voltage range of the instrument being tested. To further simplify coordination, the proving units are colour-coded to match Martindale voltage indicators, making it easy for professionals to identify the right equipment for the job.

Among the new proving units, the PD440SRDX stands out with its unique CALCHECK feature. This feature simplifies the verification of insulation and low resistance ranges on 18th Edition multifunction testers, a critical step in ensuring the reliability of these testers. The CALCHECK function is particularly valuable for identifying potential calibration issues with multifunction testers, before certifying new wiring installations or conducting condition reports. It’s also a procedure recognised by electrical contractor assessment bodies.

Additionally, all the new SRD and SRDX models feature stepped voltage LEDs with thresholds that align with most voltage indicators and two-pole testers. This alignment ensures precision and accuracy in testing, a vital aspect of electrical safety.

While the PD440SRDX and other advanced models cater to specific needs, Martindale Electric also recognises the importance of simplicity for all electrical contractors. Hence, the introduction of the PD230SRD and the more advanced PD440SRDX.

The PD230SRD Proving Unit serves as the ideal entry-level proving device, facilitating the checking of basic voltage indicators. It is perfect for proving both low and high impedance voltage indicators, test lamps and two-pole testers. With its MG3 high-strength magnetic hanger and robust over-moulded, low profile design, it is convenient and durable. The unit boasts a long battery life, complete with a low battery indicator and an auto power-off function.

For those requiring a higher voltage output of up to 440V and additional testing features, the PD440SRDX is the go-to option. This model, while still user-friendly, provides more versatility for working with 18th Edition installation testers. Its precise, stepped voltage outputs are tailored to match two-pole tester thresholds, making it indispensable for electrical contractors.

For more information on Martindale Electric’s proving devices, click here

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Thanks to the popularity of its 95^th Anniversary Spot the Difference competition, Martindale Electric has announced it is uploading a new picture puzzle for entrants to get their teeth into. The new Spot the Difference puzzle shows a scene where safe isolation is taking place and entrants are challenged to spot the key differences in the two pictures and bag themselves a prize. Entrants who successfully completed the first competition can enter again to double their chance of winning.

“We are celebrating our 95^th year and we wanted to have a little more fun with a new picture based on a safe isolation scene. Amazon vouchers and exclusive ‘95^th Anniversary’ metal water bottles are up for grabs, so why not have a go and click as many of the differences you can spot?” said Steve Dunning, Martindale Electric’s Managing Director.

To enter the competition, simply successfully complete the spot the difference competition below, and you will be entered into the prize draw to win one of three £200 Amazon vouchers or one of 95 Martindale exclusive celebratory metal water bottles. The double wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks cool for 24 hours and warm drinks hot for 12 hours and holds 500ml.
The competition closes on 30th November 2023.

To enter, click here

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