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PAT Substitute Leakage Test

Hi.

Have a question on voltages and equipment regarding a PAT test option.

On some equipment, like motors, if the voltage drops below the minimum, damage can occur. In the case of motors, from overheating.

Not sure what the effect would be on electronics. I believe the inductive reactance may reduce like it would if the frequency went down. Not sure if it's the same case with voltage.

I was looking up PAT testers the other day. I did the C&G PAT course years ago and the last time I used PAT tester is about 15 years ago.

There is now an option to do a "Substitute leakage current test".

Depending on the tester it is between 60 & 100 volts.

I would have thought the only way to get leakage is for the equipment to be running and that would take full voltage.

I can't see how using a voltage so low will get a leakage result. I'm also wondering if there is any adverse effect on the equipment. I scanned through the Fluke manual and it didn't have any restrictions on the type of equipment.

I know they are unlikely to produce the tester with this test if it damaged equipment.

I'm theorising that even if equipment can get damaged if the voltage drops below the minimum, the test voltages that are much lower are not enough to run equipment so no damage can occur.

Still can't see how you can get a leakage result though.

Any thoughts?

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0 David Stone over 4 years ago

This shows exactly what is wrong with PAT in general. A leakage test to real Earth is useless for a class 2 appliance, and should not be carried out. An insulation test to external metalwork probably should be. It is assumed by these supposed "testers" that all appliances are identical, and need the same tests. The persons carrying out the tests know no better, and so it goes on. I wonder what value they got for the Earth bonding to the appliance, was the infinity a pass? PAT should not be an idiots game, it requires competent inspectors in the same way as everything else. Why this reading was obtained needs investigation as there is no obvious circuit. I think at first guess that the tester is class 2 and has an Earth connection whose current is measured during the testing to get a "leakage" value. Stray capacitance from Live to Earth would then give some reading like this. The other alternative is that the saw insulation is faulty, but if this was not measured, who knows?
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0 David Stone over 4 years ago

This shows exactly what is wrong with PAT in general. A leakage test to real Earth is useless for a class 2 appliance, and should not be carried out. An insulation test to external metalwork probably should be. It is assumed by these supposed "testers" that all appliances are identical, and need the same tests. The persons carrying out the tests know no better, and so it goes on. I wonder what value they got for the Earth bonding to the appliance, was the infinity a pass? PAT should not be an idiots game, it requires competent inspectors in the same way as everything else. Why this reading was obtained needs investigation as there is no obvious circuit. I think at first guess that the tester is class 2 and has an Earth connection whose current is measured during the testing to get a "leakage" value. Stray capacitance from Live to Earth would then give some reading like this. The other alternative is that the saw insulation is faulty, but if this was not measured, who knows?
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PAT Substitute Leakage Test

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