Karltone PAT Testing Blog
Here you will find information on PAT Testing, News and failures we've encountered
30th April 2023
Found this recently at an industrial site, needless to say never use foil as a fuse!!!
15th February 2023
If your a duty holder and need help with risk assessment please contact us for a COP 5th Edition Risk Assessment Template
13th July 2022
We are now members of the PATTA (Portable Appliance Testing Trade Association).
10th April 2022
On our last job we found this plug which was attached to a DVD player. Although it is a Class 2 appliance (which has no need for an earth connection) the earth pin is sheathed which if used for Class 1 appliance would be very dangerous. It does not comply to BS1363 standard for plugs and is not fused. The item was manufactured in the far east and more than likely sold on one of the biggest marketplaces in the world. Be careful what you buy from these places as they sell a large quantity of sub-par appliances.
31st March 2022
How often do I need to PAT test?
There are no rules on how often your equipment needs a PAT test. It is entirely up to the ‘duty holder’ (the person allocated with the responsibility for the electrical equipment in your business) to assess the risk and decide on the frequency of inspections. This is determined by the type of equipment, how often it is being used and whether the working environment is considered low or high risk.
28th March 2022
New Website
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new website!
This website includes updated content to help you find out more about us and what we can do to help you.
We have created a clean, modern design and improved site navigation to help our users find exactly what they’re looking for and better represent who we are as a company.
1st January 2022
User checks
The person that uses the equipment regularly will be in the best position to know if it is in a safe condition and working properly.
It is worth training your staff to look out for signs of wear and tear such as cracked plugs, faulty strain relief on the cords and signs of heat damage.
Should the user become aware of any fault then the appliance must be disconnected from the mains and quarantined and the fault reported to the 'responsible person' in the company.
3rd December 2021
This plug is on an IEC Lead which is commonly used for computers and many other appliances which require an earth connection for safety.
The manufacturer has removed the earth protection by the insulating sleeve on the earth pin.
This is not the first time I have seen this and it won't be the last.
18th August 2021
This 4 way extension lead socket overheated and melted more than likely because it was overloaded.
I have to say the extension lead was not of the best quality.
The plug had started to bulge on the side making it more obvious there was a fault.
22nd September 2020
On one of our jobs recently we found the socket adaptor shown in the pics. It does not comply to BS1363 standard, it is dangerous and should not be used. Most likely this was sent with an electrical appliance bought from overseas. The main reasons it is not safe:
1. It is not fused
2. It has no internal shutter guard for Live and Neutral on the socket side
3. It fails to meet the correct dimensions for plugs/adaptors