PAT testing failures

Andy™ · Feb 24, 2010

been doing some testing at a industrial unit earlier, and a number of failures

the worst:

toaster - very old. removed cover of plug to find no screws in the terminals. slight burning marks on L&N conductors (no surprise)

Drill & extension: damaged flex. repaired with bitumen type tape. so stiff, this also damaged the flex with movement

4 way adapter: completely smashed, and fully covered in duct tape. tape carefully cut away at one of the sockets so it could be used

few other things which were repaired and then passed (cable sheath not clamped, broken plugs etc)

bloke said he was expecting the above items to fail, yet they were still in use until i failed them

so whats the worst failures youve came accross?

Theorysparky · Feb 24, 2010

Damaged flex repaired by twisting wires together then taped

chris_k · Feb 24, 2010

Kit kat foil wrapped round fuses, Steel rod as fuse, bare copper exposed on supply cords on angle grinder.... the list goes on

green-hornet · Feb 24, 2010

I would guess much the same as your examples.

However the worst one I came across was a wall heater, the type that runs off the central heating, so only really requires a 3 amp fuse for the electrical fan motor.

First fault noticed, it was very difficult to unplug (normal 13 amp type plug fitted)

When I eventually got it out I found out that match sticks had been used to "lock" the plug in place, because it used to fall out.

Opened the plug top found it was a class 1 but wired in twin flex, main notice on the outside of the casing for the heater said in bold letters "THIS EQUIPMENT MUST BE EARTHED".

Checked the fuse rating in the plug top and found it to be 13 amp, should be 3.

Best part was that after I failed the unit, the client said that it was installed by a competant electrician who knows his stuff.

I asked for the installation certificate, then he looked at me as if I had just spoken arabic.

green-hornet · Feb 24, 2010

Kit kat foil wrapped round fuses, Steel rod as fuse, bare copper exposed on supply cords on angle grinder.... the list goes on

I once found a 25mm bolt used as a main fuse, but that was on a PIR for an engineers workshop.

I requested an immediate dissconnection from supply, but the powers that be refused on the grounds that remedial work should take place and no immediate danger should exsist if operators are aware of the dangers.

Now thats a joke aint it?