Which Portable Appliance Is Right For You

Not sure which PAT tester is right for you?
Do you have a certification for PAT testing, but don't know which PAT tester you need? You're not alone!
We are here to provide you with the basic guidelines to help you make the right choice. The market offers a wide range of products with different functionalities from very different brands. To try to make it easier for you, we've answered the most important questions you need to consider when choosing your perfect PAT tester.
What is your budget?
There are many brands and models to fit most budgets, so if you need to test 50 or 5000 items, there will be a model for your application. There are basic PASS / FAIL instruments that perform basic security checks, to more advanced models with full PAT testing capabilities, including some with Bluetooth technology and testing data upload capabilities.


How many devices do you want to test in a year?
If you do not have a large number of electrical devices, it is better to choose a cheaper and simpler model, allowing you to carry out tests and record your results in a logbook. These are often called “manual PAT testers”. However, if you have large premises, with more than 500 devices, you'd probably be better off choosing a PAT tester with memory to record and store the results. These testers are called "downloadable PAT testers".
How would you like to store the test results?
This is probably one of the most important questions, some models can store up to 10,000 individual test records with additional information such as user, test status and date. All this information can be downloaded directly to your PC via a USB connection or sent wireless via Bluetooth.
What type of test should you perform?

The method of construction of an electrical device determines its class and the test to be performed. The list below shows the tests to be performed depending on the class of the device.

Class I (metal): earth continuity and insulation resistance.
Class I (plastic): insulation resistance.
Class II: insulation resistance.
3-conductor power cord: earth continuity, insulation resistance and polarity.
2-conductor power cord: inspection only.


How can you test 110V equipment?
All of the PAT testers we sell are ready for use in hazardous environments and testing 110V equipment. Just use our adapter to connect to specific 100V instruments. The yellow cap adapter is easily identifiable and suitable for all brands and models of PAT testers.
Once you have the answers to these questions, you can then begin to narrow down the choice of PAT testers available. Take a look at this PAT tester comparison table.
If you need further assistance, click here