Category Archives: PAT Testing

In a nutshell, Portable Appliance Testing (PAT testing process) starts with observation of a portable appliance, followed by a formal visual inspection. The final step is a formal inspection by a person or competent to perform the testing. Step 1: Observation Simple observation is the first and very important of the PAT Testing process. For example, if while using a kettle in the staff canteen you to notice that the plug is cracked, you should immediately let the office manager/safety officer know. Step 2: Formal Visual Inspection All portable appliances in the workplace, or which are made available to the public for their use, … Continue reading →

Powerpoint Engineering Limited recently installed an Energy Metering System (monitoring Gas and Electricity usage on site) at a metal fabrication factory in Cork. The electrical energy meters were retrofitted on existing switchgear, using any existing infrastructure available (Measure-Voltage fused signals and current transformers). The factory is Ireland’s only independently owned manufacturer of extruded aluminium profiles. They specialise in aluminium extrusion, powder coated aluminium and sheet metal fabrication as well as providing many other services from their vast 250,000 sq. ft. facility. The installed system consists of: After the system installation was complete, the installed meters were accuracy tested and validated. … Continue reading →

A clamp meter is a tool that’s used by electricians and it combines a current sensor and a digital multimeter. The clamp is used to measure current while the probes measure voltage. The hinged jaw of a clamped meter allows the user to clamp these jaws around a cable, wire or any other type of conductor. They can do this at any point of the electrical system. The user is then able to measure the current in the circuit without having to disconnect it. Here is our list of the 8 best clamp meters we recommend to electricians: Fluke 375FC … Continue reading →

Introduction: In the world of power utilities and renewable energy, the reliability and efficiency of high-voltage cables are paramount. Ensuring that these cables are properly straightened, relaxed, and connected is vital to maintaining a stable electrical infrastructure. One invaluable tool for achieving this is the heating blankets offered by Kuhlmann Electro-Heat. These heating blankets have become indispensable in the industry for a variety of reasons. In this article, we will explore the advantages and various usages of these specialized heating blankets. Advantages of Heating Blankets for High Voltage Cables Cable Straightening and Relaxation: The primary purpose of these heating blankets … Continue reading →

PAT Testing is an essential aspect of any company’s Health & Safety Policy. All employers are required to ensure the safety of staff members or vistors to their place of work, when it comes to electrical equipment within a business premises.

Preventing arc flash incidents in the workplace is crucial for the safety of personnel and the protection of equipment. Two important safety practices to mitigate the risk of arc flash incidents are Lockout Tagout (LOTO) procedures and proper electrical safety measures. Let’s delve into each of these practices: Lockout Tagout (LOTO) Procedures: Lockout Tagout is a safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous machinery and energy sources are properly shut off and not restarted while maintenance or servicing is being performed. While LOTO is often associated with mechanical equipment, it’s also essential for electrical work to prevent arc flash incidents. … Continue reading →

Scan and Print QR Codes with Ease!! Introducing Seaward’s innovative QR code data system, now offering enhanced storage capacity within your PAT label barcode. This upgrade includes Asset ID, site details, location, last and upcoming test dates. With Seaward’s Test n Tag Elite 2 printer, generating labels featuring our exclusive QR data code is a breeze. The Apollo 600+, 500+ and 400+ models are equipped with a cutting-edge Bluetooth 2D Elite barcode scanner, capable of effortlessly reading the code’s contents. This automation populates fields instantly for quicker retesting, eliminating the need for data uploads. Experience added convenience with our QR … Continue reading →

Insulation testers are used by electricians to determine whether insulation is safe and effective. These testers typically measure capacitive current, absorption current, and leakage current. They are used to test newly installed equipment or machinery. When testing, the very first test is used to provide a proof test and the second test provides a baseline reading. The baseline reading is then used for future reference. Let’s take a look at 5 of the best Fluke insulation testers on the market right now: Fluke 1587FC Insulation Multimeter with Fluke Connect The Fluke 1587FC Insulation Multimeter with Fluke Connect can test insulation in … Continue reading →

Learn more about Irish Law and PAT Testing. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulation’s S.I NO.299 of 2007 means that there is a requirement under Irish law that all businesses carry out PAT Testing on all portable appliances. This is to ensure the safety and welfare of both employees and customers. This obligaton rests solely with the employer, which means that the employers are held 100% responsible for the safe mainetenance of portable appliances (anything with a plug- kettle, PCs, laptops, toasters, servers etc.)

Wide-Angle Panorama Shot of a Working Data Center With Rows of Rack Servers. Red Emergency Led Lights Blinking and Computers are Working. Dark Ambient Light. A Data Centre is a facility that has been dedicated specifically to the storage and operation of a company’s business-critical applications and communications technology infrastructure. Data Centres perform highly complex operations that are dependent upon numerous different components all working together interdependently. Depending on the size of business operations, a Data Centre might consist of anything from as simple as a rack of computer equipment to an entire room or building containing many cabinets with … Continue reading →

Where measurements are important to your business calibration is just as important. The main reason to calibrate test instruments is to ensure that they remain reliable and trustworthy. Calibrating your test equipment allows the user to have full confidence in the results that they produce and subsequently control. What is Calibration? Calibration is the process of comparing a measurement from your test instrument with a known measurement (the standard) from another piece of reference equipment and adjusting the output to agree with the value of the applied standard.  The reference equipment should be calibrated to a known set of parameters, … Continue reading →

An earth ground tester is a vital piece of equipment that can save your life. With the ability to give electrical currents a safe path, it’s crucial that you have a ground tester that works well for you. With the ability to measure Earth current, continuity and leakage along with ground bond, earth ground testers are an essential tool for all electricians. While there are many earth ground testers available on the market right now, there are a few that are a cut above the rest. Below you will find the 6 best earth ground testers for electricians: Fluke 1630-2 … Continue reading →

Interpreting thermal images taken using infrared (IR) cameras can be quite difficult. IR images lack the contrast, clarity and colour characteristics of pictures taken in visible light, requiring an expert eye to spot any discrepancies in the recorded heat patterns. Even professional thermographers prefer imaging devices that offer spatial detail and a wide field of view to get a clearer picture of live equipment in their operating environment. However, these hi-end features are expensive. The patent-pending IR-Fusion® technology that seamlessly blends images from IR and visible optics provides a cost-effective alternative to address this need.

Substations are potentially high-risk environments with a unique set of threats often hidden from the untrained eye. One step in the wrong direction can bring people too close to live equipment, an accidental stretch of an arm flipping a control switch can bring the entire facility to a grinding halt, or a dropped wrench can trigger an explosion. There are simply so many ways in which things can go wrong. These not only cause damage to assets and infrastructure but also compromise the safety and lives of personnel, apart from interrupting power transmission or distribution. Monitoring and controlling access right … Continue reading →

OK, so we know that PAT Testing is an essential part of any company’s Health & Safety Policy. But who is allowed to do it? Who is qualified to carry out PAT Testing? The IEE Code of Practice states that those carrying out inspection and testing must be competent to undertake the inspection and where appropriate, testing of electrical equipment and appliances. These competent individuals should have due regard to their own safety and that of others.

There is a wide variety of uses for Thermal imaging cameras or infrared cameras depending on the information required for a particular task. It is important to understand the differences between these types of camera’s and what they are capable of before investing in equipment which may not be suitable in the application they are required for. Infrared cameras differ from thermal imaging cameras as they use short wavelength infrared light to illuminate the required location or point of interest and as fragments of the infrared energy gets reflected back into the camera it is then turned into an image … Continue reading →

Reactive maintenance and repair costs due to equipment failure can be quite aggravating and costly for companies. Thermal imaging can play an important role in enabling maintenance professionals to monitor equipment performance and therefore schedule planned maintenance while also extending the lifespan of essential machinery and equipment. What is Thermal Imaging? Heat generation is often an early indication of equipment failure or damage, making it vital to monitor. Thermal imaging uses infrared-sensitive cameras to inspect the infrared energy emitted by electrical equipment, machinery or buildings and produce thermal or heat pictures to help maintenance technicians locate faults commonly related to … Continue reading →

The TracePQM “Traceability routes for electrical power quality measurements” research project has now concluded. The overall aim of this project was to develop and validate a modular metrology grade system for the measurement of power and PQ parameters using digital sampling techniques. Arising out of the project, the NSAI, National Metrology Laboratory, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 – www.nsai.ie) hope to develop a capability for the calibration of power & power quality meters and calibrators. The Project stakeholders included: ESB Networks, UCD Energy Institute, Compliance Engineering Ireland, Fluke Calibration, various European Universities and Calibration Houses and Powerpoint Engineering Limited. Powerpoint Engineering Limited … Continue reading →

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an infectious disease spread from person to person in sneeze or cough droplets. You are at risk of contracting the virus if you have been in close contact with someone who has the virus and is coughing or sneezing. This may be direct or indirect (on hands, objects, surfaces). Wearing a face mask helps prevent people who may be unaware that they have coronavirus from spreading it to others. Responding to the threats posed by COVID-19, we have IN STOCK large quantities of respiratory protection products including a variety of highly effective face masks. These masks are readily … Continue reading →