Gas-Elec Safety Systems has specified a new electrical tester to improve the speed and accuracy with which it tests domestic appliances.The company has specified the Seaward PrimeTest 210, upgrading from the Seaward PAC 1500 XI which it has used for several years.
The Gas-Elec engineers are now starting to upgrade to the new lightweight tester, designed to enable engineers to quickly verify the safety of appliances and the electrical sockets and circuits to which they are connected.
The unit is self contained and battery powered, it is far easier to operate and transport from job to job – a particularly important factor for Gas-Elec as its engineers undertake up to six safety tests per day.
Engineers are able to perform a continuity test and an automatic insulation test at the same time, providing further efficiency gains.
Gas Elec provides gas and electrical safety inspections (CP12), services, products and advice in accordance with UK gas safety regulations and current electrical equipment safety rules.
It operates across the UK on a franchise basis with a head office in West Drayton and has more than 140 engineers providing a national service to primarily residential landlords, but increasingly homeowners and the buy-to-let market.
Several 210s have been supplied by Seaward’s Watford-based test and measurement distributor Instrotech to Gas Elec engineers, who recently completed their training.
John Purchase, an inspector for Gas Elec based in Brentwood, expects that eventually all engineers will be equipped as other franchisees come on board and see the operational and cost saving benefits provided.
‘It’s a great bit of kit, which performs extremely well and does exactly what’s required of it,’ said Purchase. ‘Seaward has an excellent reputation for quality and the new 210 is clearly a versatile and reliable instrument.
‘Its ability to perform a number of tasks together with the fact its battery operated, make the 210 particularly suitable. This enables me to complete more tests per day than previously, even on sites where there is no operating power.’
The PrimeTest combines the functions of a traditional portable appliance tester with electrical wiring checks and digital multi-meter functions.
The instrument meets the electrical safety testing requirements of all Class I and Class II equipment, says Seaward, and includes a digital reading loop test, RCD trip test and power socket polarity test.
Appliance safety testing requirements are selected by a large rotary switch, with simple push button activation of automatic test sequences.
An IEC power cord test facility is also incorporated as standard to check the condition of mains leads and protective earth current leakage and touch current tests can also be carried when required with the PrimeTest 210 connected to a mains power supply.
In addition, basic multi-meter test functions allow the 210 to be used for the measurement of voltage and resistance.
For integrated safety testing routines, the PrimeTest 210 can be used in conjunction with the PATGuard Workabout PDA test data collection program and the PATGuard Pro PC based test management software.
These software systems allow test results to be recorded quickly on site for transfer into a central results database for automatic updating of records, the compilation or test reports and development of advance test schedules.
The PrimeTest 210 forms part of a comprehensive range of portable appliance test instrumentation, software and accessories developed by Seaward to ensure the safety of electrical equipment used in the workplace.
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