Hi Edwina -
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A fair few groups use the BattPAT from First Stop Safety. This is very simple to operate - just a single button press for a go/no-go result in a few seconds. There are more sophistaced ones which give you the actual eath leakage and ground bonding resistances, and allow you to perform custom tests but they&#;re more complicated to use, and all you really need in a repair setting to know, is this device safe? Yes or No? The BattPAT is quite reasonable at around £250, but you can sometimes pick up a second hand one with recent calibration certificate on eBay a fair bit cheaper, as we did some years ago.
Anyone out there using a different one? What is your experience?
You also need to do a training course which gives you a certificate of competance so that, should the unthinkable happen, you can say you took all reasonable steps to remain safe. There are online ones which are very reasonably priced, or for quite a lot more you can attend an in-person training course. This will allow you to ask questions and arguably gain a deeper understanding if you don&#;t already have a good grounding of electrical theory and practice, but beware of the course tutor, in his/her enthusiasm, steering you towards a much more sophisticated tester than you need.
On the Wiki there&#;s a PAT Testing Survival Guide which gives you all the basics, but it&#;s not a substitute for a course leading to a certificate.
If you test with a Multimeter or any type of Continuity Meter/Buzzer or Insulation Tester you will see that the meter indicates that the earth conductor is OK and therefore the earth conductor is presumed to be safe - however sadly this is not the case. Now try the same test with a battery charger - the fuse will blow. Now you know that your earth is faulty and you can fix it.
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In recent years it has become common for PAT Testers to be small and sometimes a lot lighter as they have less inside! Many PAT Testers nowadays do not have the ability to test an Earth by applying 10 Amps or 25 Amps through the protective earth conductor - it is our belief that this is a step backwards as far at PAT Testers, and safety, are concerned.
Size and price versus functionality is what the compromise has become.
There are still many (usually, but not always) more expensive PAT Tester that are able to do the 10/25 Amp Earth Bond Test - these we would define as electrical safety testers compared to electrical compliance testers. Both can meet the requirements of AS/NZS, but one goes a step further and is more likely to fail appliances with faulty earths.
Doing safety testing with just a Multimeter or similar type of instrument is like carrying an umbrella around in case it rains; only to find when it does rain that the umbrella leaks! An earth conductor substantially damaged or not there means that in a situation where a fault occurs the operator becomes the earth ie the operator becomes the means by which the active 230 Volts supply returns to earth - likely killing the person in the process!! It is essential that when an earth conductor is needed that it is able to pass the earth current required otherwise you or someone else will become the earth.
You should by now be able to see the difference between an Earth Bond and Earth Continuity Test ie an earth bond test shows whether the earth conductor is in a satisfactory condition; whereas an Earth Continuity Test (100 milliamps or less) using Multimeters and the like will possibly only show the earth is connected, not its' condition.
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