I'm considering taking a PAT testing course. How much would be a resonable amount to pay for
a) the testing equipment
The price varies a lot and much depends on what you want it to do for you. If you want all singing and dancing or very simple but easy enough to Goggle.
I was flabbergasted when I went to take the C&G2382 as the 2381 had cost £65 in 2002 and now the 2382 costs £275 from same collage. But again cost is not be all and end all as some collages do run better courses than others and area also makes a big difference to cost.
And finally.. How much would be a typical charge per unit for testing? I've heard between £1-£2
I had a top of range Robin PAT tester and I tried to see how quick I could do the tests and I did 40 in 6 hours which was a lot less than I expected mainly due to waiting for machine to boot after each move. My son who had a manual machine could do a lot better around double but at £1 each with top of range machine you will just about get minimum wage but with manual at £2 you will get quite a return.
But what are you doing for the £2? I have seen firms who stick a new label on with each PAT test and take no notes on previous number so there is not record of trend and they will not look for anything they just test what is presented.
Others will issue a sheet telling the customer which items have been missed which were tested last year and because they keep the existing ID it shows where items have moved from room to room.
Next is what is PAT tested again I have seen where only items which are strictly portable are tested and others where items like hand driers in loo's are also tested.
The time to disconnect an item from a FCU test and re-connect can be prohibitive doing testing by the item at fixed price would make you no money if there are half a dozen items which need to be removed to test.
To a lesser extent you have items like a fridge which to test must be running and you can end up waiting 5 minutes for motor to cut in.
To me most of the firms who offer PAT testing at a price per unit cheat. They may tell their employees to do a good job but then expect 200 units a day to be tested and by time you include travel the only way to do that is to just stick labels on most and only test those you expect will fail.
Some firms consider it as a loss leader and rely on repairs generated by PAT testing to make their money.
I has also to be considered who will manage the PAT testing? If you also manage the testing then all in-service electrical equipment will need testing which could include some specialist items which you may need to sub-contract for example a washing machine where there are a number of motors etc which can only be tested with some dismantling of the machine.
And of course insurance. If you miss a fault and kill someone or worse injure them so they can't work you may have to pay out up to 1/2 a million. So you must insure. And you may find the insurance companies want more than a C&G on PAT testing before they will insure you.
If one is an electrician one has to PAT test any items you repair so you will normally have access to a machine. The tests don't have to be on an exact day so to have some people who you do PAT testing for fills in when business is slow. And it keeps you in the clients eye which can also generate work so it is well worth their time PAT testing even if it does not make money. In the same way as a garage may do MOT's as well as general repairs. Although there are some garages doing only MOT's and some firms doing nothing but PAT testing the amount of work required to only test is massive.
My son worked for a firm doing this and could be in Scotland one day and South Wales the next. This also included PIR's as well and when one considered the nights out and hassle it was not worth it. He lasted 6 months than gave it up. He learn a lot doing it. But he is far happier working in a Zoo on the re-wire of mono rail. Even though his earning were high one week there could be three weeks where because to travel involved he was only really on basic wage.
I would not recommend it as something to get into.