Anyone PAT-test their own equipment?

[Steevo]

Wondered about doing a PAT course to make it easier to test my own kit as/when I have spare time. Does anyone else do this? Is it cost effective?

[DAVESOUNDS SERVICES]

Err NO i dont think it is Steevo!
Your PAT tester needs to be calibrated annually at a cost of around 60 pounds each per year ( ive 2 testers ) a simple one and a giant one.
Then theres 320 pounds insurance per annum
then your customised labels
I was City and Guilds Electrical installation trained ( 5 Years)
From what ive seen from this forum costs very wildly.
Mine dont
1 pounds 50 pence per item no call out charges
( allthough im alarmed that ive noticed quite a few guys here buying the green labels from EBAY!)
ok till something goes wrong!

Cheers

[Jason]

I test my own gear. When the legislation came out in the late 80's/early 90's, my boss started a 2nd company providing PAT services. I wrote their IT software, but also got training. I've since designed industrial control systems (single and three-phase), and have a very healthy respect for 'lectrics!

I've got my own tester, its calibrated (it is around £60, but this includes carriage and vat), and take on the odd bit of outside work (including the odd DJ gear). Its not a nice job- checking multi-blocks in factory offices, whilst on your knees is not on by favourite job list!

Not sure why there is a problem with the ebay labels? as long as there are some red "failed" stickers in the testers stock, there is no need for customised stickers :confused:



To the OP... unless you have use of the gear (ie have permission to borrow it from work), it won't be cost effective.
Day courses are a few hundred pounds. For many DJ's, that could be 2 or even 3 years worth of test fees.

If you want to offer this as a service - there is little money in it, and you'll need to buy your own gear, so work out the costs and then the payback time..
If you have a full-time job - its not worth it. If you are a full-time DJ with lots of time on your hands, it may keep you amused, but the time would be better spent on other sidelines.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Then theres 320 pounds insurance per annum

Insurance for what?



then yr customised labels

Which you don't have to have surely?

What is the matter with PAT labels bought online?

[Corabar Steve]

Wondered about doing a PAT course to make it easier to test my own kit as/when I have spare time. Does anyone else do this? Is it cost effective?Depends on your situation & circumstances. We do ours in house & it makes sense to do so (last time took 3 days to do everything including leads)


Err NO i dont think it is Steevo!A bit of a sweeping statement there. Could depend on a lot of factors

Your PAT tester needs to be calibrated annually at a cost of around 60 pounds each per year ( ive 2 testers ) a simple one and a giant one.
That could still work out cost effective if you have alot of kit.


Then theres 320 pounds insurance per annum
Care to elaborate on that one


then yr customised labels
YOUR!

Why do they have to be customised?

( allthough im alarmed that ive noticed quite a few guys here buying the green labels from EBAY!)
ok till something goes wrong!
a) Proof?
b) Why are you alarmed?
c) Are you saying that all who buy generic labels are just sticking them on kit without testing it?
d) If so, proof?
e) Where is "here"? The forum, or your locality?

[Danno13]

Not unless you have loads of kit. I worked out it was more cost effective for me when I started buying lots of uplighters for hire. At the time I had 32 units with splitters, link leads etc. which came to over 100 items + 40-50 of DJ kit, so would have only taken a couple of years of doing it myself, before it paid for the tester and training. If you don't have any prior electrical knowlege, then to get trained up properly can be quite expensive, don't just think you can jump straight into the C&G exam.

[Excalibur]

Wondered about doing a PAT course to make it easier to test my own kit as/when I have spare time. Does anyone else do this? Is it cost effective?

Not for one set of kit. You'd have to go round and test your mates' kit as well, to recoup your investment, unless like some, you're a multi op.
( Or have absolutely oodles of kit. )

[Corabar Steve]

Dave, I see you've been on the forum since & I'm wondering if you are going to answer the points raised in post #5?

[chrisj]

I test my own kit and yes I have the unit calibrated eac year. This year was £62. I did the Electrical health and safety course at college, paid for by the boss I worked for at the time and it included PAT course. With over 40 uplighters and many more cables as there are various lenghts plus the disco rig there are well over 140 items to test.
Definately cheaper for me but then I was a control/panel electrician with several C&G certificates until I went full time disco/children's entertainer.

Definately not worth training and buying kit to do your own testing unless you have loads of gear to test. But then you do not have to train for Portable Appliance Testing. You must know your equipment and how to use it.
http://www.pat-testing-uk.info/what-is-a-competent-person.php

[Cowlinn]

If you do train and get the equipment, you could also offer PAT Testing a a service? Just something to think about.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Dave, I see you've been on the forum since & I'm wondering if you are going to answer the points raised in post #5?

Or in post number 4...

[Corabar Steve]

Evidently not

[WWDJ]

Evidently not

I could do with the answer. i did a PAT testing course and bought my own tester. I'll get my investment back eventually!

... but they didn't mention insurance.

[CRAZY K]

I could do with the answer. i did a PAT testing course and bought my own tester. I'll get my investment back eventually!

... but they didn't mention insurance.

Well you know you need it for your job as a DJ.

Same thing if you run another separate business.

Public Liability/ Professional Indemnity type I guess.

Having just noticed this thread I assume Dave is saying if you run an Electrical Contractors business including PAT testing you might pay £300 per year.

Not sure if thats just to cover the testing though.

[Corabar Steve]

Pure speculation on your part though Alan?

[WWDJ]

Well you know you need it for your job as a DJ.

Same thing if you run another separate business.

Public Liability/ Professional Indemnity type I guess.

Having just noticed this thread I assume Dave is saying if you run an Electrical Contractors business including PAT testing you might pay £300 per year.

Not sure if thats just to cover the testing though.

Yes I have public liability but i assume that only covers me for DJ related activities?

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I fail to see why insurance would be necessary....

Is a garage insured in such a way that if your car dies the day after passing an MOT you could make a claim on them....

Your testing the kit at that specific point in time and there can only be 2 outcomes....it passes or it doesn't. I can see it being a whole different ball game if you try and fix any major failures yourself mind.... But still...its then got to pass a retest....

[Pe7e]

Suppose your PAT test M/C developes a fault and fries someones delicate playout system, I think insurance would come into its own, but if you only do your own kit, I don't think it would be much of an issue.

[CRAZY K]

Pure speculation on your part though Alan?

Absolutely--- based on reasonable assumptions;)

[WWDJ]

I guess if you were PAT testing on a large scale professional indemnity would be a good idea and PLI is a no brainer.

I would imagine it's extremely rare that a PAT test machine would actually break an item, but it does send large voltages around so it had the potential i guess. ...