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Sorry I should have explained better, a standard PAT testing machine has two completely different insulation testing methods, the normal one used is 500 volt same as we use on fixed installations, this is used when testing an in service bit of equipment.
The other is much higher voltage I think mine was 1500 volt, and to be frank I think the 1000 volt range of many of the insulation testers is good enough, but it comes out with a wand, so you plug in the device then go around all exposed screws and metal casings with this much higher voltage in the main to ensure you have not used screws that are too long.
At the end of the day, you are signing to say the item is safe, and to do that you should have the skill and tools required.
In the early days the flash test as it was called was done every time, however so many items were destroyed when the tester put the wand on an inappropriate part that this test was discontinued for items already in service, it is only done with items being returned to service after repair, as the repairer should know what is inappropriate to test, like the aerial of a portable radio.
Using the same meters as used to do an EICR is to my mind OK.
There are some odd things about PAT testing, for example you don't NEED to use PAT testing labels, you could for example go to a shop and test all items used in the shop and write out one certificate, what you do NEED to do, is keep records good enough to show the HSE that every item has been tested and inspected, with just 3 items in a shop you could do that, with 50 items then it becomes a problem.
I have questioned many times the record keeping of PAT testing, you are suppose to be able to see a trend, so if the IR testing shows 10MΩ, 10MΩ, 8MΩ, 6MΩ and 2MΩ you can see some thing is failing, but if it shows 2MΩ, 2MΩ, 2MΩ, and 2MΩ likely it is just an EMC filter so no problem. But to do this some one has to look at the records, not simply file them away, and you have to be able to identify the item.
There is a regime of having a role of pre-printed labels with numbers assigned to a tester rather than a machine, so each time it is tested it ends up with a different ID number, now in theory the serial number from manufacturer should cross reference with ID number so it shouldn't matter, but often it is not the case.
However this is down to the manager not the person testing, so it may be no concern of yours. It all depends who is considered the manager.
The other is much higher voltage I think mine was 1500 volt, and to be frank I think the 1000 volt range of many of the insulation testers is good enough, but it comes out with a wand, so you plug in the device then go around all exposed screws and metal casings with this much higher voltage in the main to ensure you have not used screws that are too long.
At the end of the day, you are signing to say the item is safe, and to do that you should have the skill and tools required.
In the early days the flash test as it was called was done every time, however so many items were destroyed when the tester put the wand on an inappropriate part that this test was discontinued for items already in service, it is only done with items being returned to service after repair, as the repairer should know what is inappropriate to test, like the aerial of a portable radio.
Using the same meters as used to do an EICR is to my mind OK.
There are some odd things about PAT testing, for example you don't NEED to use PAT testing labels, you could for example go to a shop and test all items used in the shop and write out one certificate, what you do NEED to do, is keep records good enough to show the HSE that every item has been tested and inspected, with just 3 items in a shop you could do that, with 50 items then it becomes a problem.
I have questioned many times the record keeping of PAT testing, you are suppose to be able to see a trend, so if the IR testing shows 10MΩ, 10MΩ, 8MΩ, 6MΩ and 2MΩ you can see some thing is failing, but if it shows 2MΩ, 2MΩ, 2MΩ, and 2MΩ likely it is just an EMC filter so no problem. But to do this some one has to look at the records, not simply file them away, and you have to be able to identify the item.
There is a regime of having a role of pre-printed labels with numbers assigned to a tester rather than a machine, so each time it is tested it ends up with a different ID number, now in theory the serial number from manufacturer should cross reference with ID number so it shouldn't matter, but often it is not the case.
However this is down to the manager not the person testing, so it may be no concern of yours. It all depends who is considered the manager.