PAT Testing a TFT Monitor, external adapter

[localzuk]

You're not testing the monitor! FFS!

 

You don't seem to understand the issue here powdarrmonkey. Enjay is trying to ensure that he doesn't damage the equipment by doing needless tests. Regardless of your personal opinions regarding his suitability to do testing (which are irrelevant), he is confused as to how to test the adapter without the monitor being involved and therefore being at risk of damage.

 

Personally, I can see his point - I go mad when our PAT tester goes merrily flash testing things...

[Andrew_C]

For all those above who do not KNOW what they are doing, or have forgotten their training (or in some cases recieved dubious training) can I recommend that they get over to Amazon and buy a copy of both of these:-

 

[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/PAT-Appliance-Service-Inspection-Electrical/dp/0750687363/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267525817&sr=8-3]Scaddan[/ame]

 

[ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Practice-Inspection-Testing-Electrical-Equipment/dp/0863418333/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b]The Code of Practice[/ame]

[Andrew_C]

Personally, I can see his point - I go mad when our PAT tester goes merrily flash testing things...

Kick them off site. Nothing needs flashing in a school environment, unless it is in for repair by competant people, or a prototype in an engineering school.

[hil]

The adapter and monitor.

 

We've been given it second-hand, so I want to have it tested (we were advised not to bother with brand new equipment).

 

You should do brand new equipment so that you know how old there are and when you need to retest them.

[localzuk]

You should do brand new equipment so that you know how old there are and when you need to retest them.

 

We have been categorically told by our council that we don't need to do new equipment. We add them to an inventory, as with all equipment, so we know age, and leads have labels put on with their 'Do not use after' dates on but that's it. (This doesn't apply to obviously damaged equipment etc...).

[hil]

We have been categorically told by our council that we don't need to do new equipment. We add them to an inventory, as with all equipment, so we know age, and leads have labels put on with their 'Do not use after' dates on but that's it. (This doesn't apply to obviously damaged equipment etc...).

 

With our PAT tester we PAT test everything so that we can look at the report and find out with needs testing and when. It does not matter what your council says this is what the trainers have to me!!

[fafster]

Straight from the IEE code of practice. That is the recommendation, stray from it and you will have to justify yourself should something go wrong.

 

Got a link?

[fafster]

With our PAT tester we PAT test everything so that we can look at the report and find out with needs testing and when. It does not matter what your council says this is what the trainers have to me!!

 

When I did the course, I was told that new equipment doesn't need testing.

[ahuxham]

When I did the course, I was told that new equipment doesn't need testing.

 

No, new IC leads less than a year old don't everything else does.

[Andrew_C]

Got a link?

In my post above.

 

 

 

New stuff should be tested. Much equipment is only batch tested on manufacture, and you need to ba able to PROVE that the equipment is safe to use. How are you going to do that if you haven't tested it? This is perhaps less important with IT kit as it may well have had an individual test, partcularly of the PSUs (look for HiPot stickers), but in general you DO NEED TO TEST NEW.

 

Be aware that there are a lot of "CE Approved" IEC cables coming out of China that are not safe. No fuse, cable undersized, and physically too small. Testing, or at least inspecting prior to taking into service will pick them up.

[ICT_GUY]

Got a link?

 

I have the book, its kind of like the internet but the indexing is slower.

[hil]

In my post above.

 

 

 

New stuff should be tested. Much equipment is only batch tested on manufacture, and you need to ba able to PROVE that the equipment is safe to use. How are you going to do that if you haven't tested it? This is perhaps less important with IT kit as it may well have had an individual test, partcularly of the PSUs (look for HiPot stickers), but in general you DO NEED TO TEST NEW.

 

Be aware that there are a lot of "CE Approved" IEC cables coming out of China that are not safe. No fuse, cable undersized, and physically too small. Testing, or at least inspecting prior to taking into service will pick them up.

 

We got tole to test everything like you are saying and that is what we have been doing.

[enjay]

You don't seem to understand the issue here powdarrmonkey. Enjay is trying to ensure that he doesn't damage the equipment by doing needless tests. Regardless of your personal opinions regarding his suitability to do testing (which are irrelevant), he is confused as to how to test the adapter without the monitor being involved and therefore being at risk of damage.

 

Exactly my point, thank you localzuk. So, how do I do it?!

[fafster]

I have the book, its kind of like the internet but the indexing is slower.

 

I've heard of them. Aren't they made out of trees?

[ICT_GUY]

I've heard of them. Aren't they made out of trees?

Yes and the bandwidth is terrible, it can take Amazon days to transfer 10MB worth of data!

[enjay]

Can anyone offer an answer on this? Regardless of who actually does the testing (I can give it to our site team anyway), do we actually need to do anything other than a visual inspection on the monitor and power adapter? The IEC lead is already known-safe.

[Andrew_C]

The adaptor is either a Class 1 or Class 2 device. Test it as such.

 

The monitor is not, and doesn't need testing.

[enjay]

The adaptor is either a Class 1 or Class 2 device. Test it as such.

 

It doesn't seem to say which, which isn't all that helpful! Also, how do I (or rather the site team) actually test this thing, or should they know what to do when I put it in their hands?

[Andrew_C]

It doesn't seem to say which, which isn't all that helpful! Also, how do I (or rather the site team) actually test this thing, or should they know what to do when I put it in their hands?

 

If it doesn't say "Class2" or carry the double square, then it should be treated as Class 1. If they don't know how to test it, they shouldn't be doing it.

 

Training is available from many places, inluding local technical colleges (now probbably the University of Inner Somewhere). When I did mine it only cost about £120 for a City & Guilds qualification.

[enjay]

If it doesn't say "Class2" or carry the double square, then it should be treated as Class 1.

 

Thanks.

 

If they don't know how to test it, they shouldn't be doing it.

 

I'm sure they will know, it is just me who has forgotten since I haven't done any in years.