Some
Scary Finds While PAT Testing
It is surprising how many faulty and dangerous
appliances we come across. Below are some we have photographed
while testing at clients premises.
So messy the earth wire is touching the live.
Always unwind extension reels before use...
If you can touch live parts, it fails.
This cable will be presented to a museum.
Looks fine at first, but the earth screw is missing.
Cable must have strain relief in the plug.
Too much wire inside stops plug lid fitting.
Sometimes you just want to give up.
Strain relief needed.
Whoever changed this plug didn't have a screwdriver.
This was on an electric hedge trimmer.
Inside a kettle plug showing failed strain relief.
This food mixer was in a holiday let kitchen.
Extension lead a little short of earth.
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Fire safety site.
See advice here>
Loose connections
We take the lid off every plug to check the wiring is correct
and secure and that the fuse is correct. Sometimes the screws
work loose and we find the wires loose. When the appliance
is being used, the current arcs between the wire and the
connector and can cause it to overheat and burn.
Crushed cables
Somehow current has to flow between the plug and appliance
via the cable. This is frequently trapped between desks,
under table legs, against walls and under heavy appliances.
Crushing the flex can split the insulation inside and cause
a short or expose live conductors.
Incorrect wiring
Anything that can be wired or rewired is at risk from being
incorrectly connected. Most common are plugs, multi-way
adaptors and extension leads. This could mean there is no
protective earth conductor or even that an appliance casing
is live.
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