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PAT Substitute Leakage Test

Sparkymania
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
    I guess it depends what "leakage current" test you are talking about.


    I agree that the usual "leakage current" test (residual current method) is less than satisfactory for general PAT test ... but if done under the proper conditions for the right reasons, I see no problem with it.

    Even with Class I equipment, I think the limits on some PAT Test instruments is very questionable, there are a lot of items of equipment now where the product standard might permit well above the 3.5 mA limit (on an appliance with a "standard" plug, i.e. BS 1363-1 in the UK).


    However, the touch current type "leakage current" test (if applied properly) is almost certainly an important test for electronic equipment ... more so since EN 62368 is taking over from EN 60950.
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  • 0
    I guess it depends what "leakage current" test you are talking about.


    I agree that the usual "leakage current" test (residual current method) is less than satisfactory for general PAT test ... but if done under the proper conditions for the right reasons, I see no problem with it.

    Even with Class I equipment, I think the limits on some PAT Test instruments is very questionable, there are a lot of items of equipment now where the product standard might permit well above the 3.5 mA limit (on an appliance with a "standard" plug, i.e. BS 1363-1 in the UK).


    However, the touch current type "leakage current" test (if applied properly) is almost certainly an important test for electronic equipment ... more so since EN 62368 is taking over from EN 60950.
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