On Sun, 28 Aug 2005 23:12:43 +0100, Derek ^
wrote:


Would 'everything' need PAT
testing, even if only low voltage was coming out of the sealed, two
pin, plastic earth pin, transformer bit would you know Mike?


If it was less than 25 volts single phase, and originally designed and
type tested to the SELV standard (Safety Extra Low Voltage) I'd say
no. Hopefully if it was made by a reputable manufacturer it would be.

Does B&D count? ;-)

But then OTOH it could be a "street market special", and how would the
charity shop know?

Well, that's the rub,, and possibly why ours won't touch anything
electrical (well they didn't the last time I asked).

I own 2 pat testers, but I've stopped using them. Because it seems I'm
not qualified despite having a degree in Electronics and 30 years
experience to issue a certificate.

Shame. I see more and more 'real world' experience being 'superceeded'
by forms that are often meaningless (IMHO).

To be qualified I'd have to go to
the local college of FE and sit in a class full of pimply youfs for a
couple of days.

Might be a laugh .. long as you don't mind being called 'Grandad' ..
;-)

AAMOF more and more I'm seeing the PAT testing scheme falling into
disuse. Most (say 70%) of the nhs equipment I get to work on has a
label indicating it hasn't been tested since 2,000/2,001.

And EVERY time I visit such places (delivering / collecting family
members etc) I see plugs with the outer cord outside the cable grip,
broken equipment held together with tape etc etc .. ;-(

It never was mandatory for electrical equipment in the workplace to be
PAT tested, merely regularly inspected. In simple equipment like
kettles with class 1 insulation (IE earthed) it is enough to inspect
the appliance, mainslead in particular, for damage or deterioration.

Common sense you mean (often anyway)?

Where class 2 equipment (double insulated) is concerned PAT testing
couldn't test much anyway.

Ah .. ho hum .. ;-(

All the best ..

T i m