Those approaching the world of PAT testing for the first time could be forgiven for thinking that all portable appliance testers are cut from the same cloth and ideal for all duties. In reality however it really isn’t as black and white as this – the differences between the various PAT testers on the market today are literally night and day.
The good news however is that choosing the right PAT tester for the job doesn’t have to be difficult – it’s simply a case of establishing the extent and involvement of the job and summarily narrowing down the options. Of course, a little advice from the pros will never go amiss, but in most instances appliance testers will be broken down into several categories to make things easier for you.
Take the following example categories as a guideline:
PAT Starter Kits – As expected, the perfect choice for those getting started for the first time and needing to take home more than just the appliance tester itself. These kits include all the technical gadgets needed for most jobs and all essential accessories like leads, cases, logbooks and so on.
Budget Testers – Entry-level portable appliance tester ranges usually feature those of a limited or manual nature, whereby there is little to no scope for downloading or saving data other than by making manual notes and logs. On the plus side, they are incredibly affordable, easy to use and perfect for smaller jobs with fewer appliances to check and for amateurs.
Intermediate Testers – The next step up is the intermediate range which will feature some more advanced manual testers and a range of entry-level downloadable testers with increased functionality and date recording tools. These are the most popular choice for full-time electricians and those working on medium-sized projects.
Professional Testers – Right at the top of the table, pro testers are preferred for large-scale environments like universities and hospitals. Along with limitless scope for practical use, they also offer extensive downloadable data functions for world-class analysis and assessment. Professional testers can also be the most robust and hard-wearing of all.