FAQs

Working with electricity, including using electrical appliances, carries significant risks. Faulty electrical equipment can cause injuries or fatalities, as well as damage to property and equipment. To ensure safety, it's crucial to follow proper precautions, such as using insulated tools, avoiding water, and ensuring equipment is in good condition. Testing and inspecting electrical equipment is crucial for reducing risks. By doing so, unsafe equipment can be identified and removed from service. Safety switches or RCDs are also considered electrical equipment that requires regular testing and inspection.

Testing and tagging is a legal requirement in certain environments and under certain conditions. This can depend on many factors such as local state legislation and the reference to national standards. Where the testing and inspection of appliances is not specifically mandated by a state legislation, it may be still be necessary to meet the obligations of occupational health and safety law, codes of practice, general duties of care, mitigate the risk of litigation (in the event of an incident), or to meet insurance requirements. In some jurisdictions and environments, a risk assessment may be required to determine if testing and tagging is necessary.

The frequency requirements for the testing and inspection of appliances depend on several factors, primarily the expected hostility of the environment in which the equipment is used. The Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760 outlines specific requirements for the testing and inspection of electrical equipment, including indicative intervals based on different environments. Additionally, retest frequencies may be defined by state legislation, related Australian Standards (such as AS3017 or 3551), or organisational policies.

AS/NZS 3760 defines the methodology for the test and inspection of cord connected electrical equipment. Its purpose is not to define the requirements of portable appliance testers. The AS/NZS 3760 mandates certain test types and methods (along with some required accuracies to satisfactorily meet those test requirements). A range of different types of equipment can be used to meet the test requirements within the standard, and a portable appliance tester generally features a broad range (or in some cases all) of the functions required. However, as not all appliance testers are capable of every test detailed in the standard, we would recommend you speak to one of our experts to ensure the equipment will meet your test requirements.

Low voltage portable hand-held equipment, stationary equipment, supply cords and extensions, inverters, flexible cords connected to fixed equipment and safety switches are all examples of equipment covered by AS/NZS3760. The requirements for testing can vary and will be detailed in state legislation, applied national standards, codes of practice, or organisational policy.

An appliance tester is a multifunction tester that combines the capabilities of several different types of test instrument. It applies predetermined thresholds to the test measurement results to provide the user with a pass or fail result. The tests undertaken are usually performed automatically, according to a preprogrammed test sequence controlled by a microcontroller. The functions typically include that of a low-ohm continuity tester, insulation tester, current leakage meter and wiring tester. Appliance testers will include additional functionality such as RCD testing and power measurement and may feature recording capabilities.

The best appliance tester to buy will be one that most closely meets the needs of the organisation using it. These needs will vary according to the volume of equipment to be tested, the required test methods, the environment, and the record keeping requirements. Browse our tester range online or speak to one of our experts to help assess your needs and determine the most appropriate options for you.

All appliance testers will vary in speed performance, but will usually only vary by a few seconds. The speed of recording will also differ, depending on the method used. However, the biggest variable (by far) will be the efficiency of the operator and the accessibility of the equipment to be tested.

Appliance testers can be either mains or battery operated, with some models featuring internal rechargeable batteries. However, certain tests, such as current leakage testing or RCD testing, require mains operation. The term "portable appliance tester" indicates that these testers are designed for portable electrical equipment, not whether the tester itself is battery operated. Contact our team to find out which type of tester best suits your needs.

Most appliance testers costing around $1,000 and upwards come with RCD testing facilities and include isolation features to prevent fixed RCDs from tripping. These testers can sometimes test fixed RCDs from an outlet socket. However, since appliance testers are CAT II rated instruments, they are not suitable for connection to a switchboard.

We have a number of options available for those who want the works. A top of the range, fully portable system that recognises previously tested equipment will start at $3,500. To record descriptions and have the capability to send information to a printer, a mid-tier tester and printer package will cost upward of $2000. Some very basic recording testers can also print, but can't record information such as descriptions.

We have a range of budget friendly testers. The TNT-EL is currently the lowest cost appliance tester that can perform the required electrical tests including current leakage testing. Whilst a great tester, instruments in this price range won’t generally feature RCD testing capabilities, record or be compatible with test tag printers.

An insulation and continuity meter has two functions (low-ohm continuity measurement and insulation resistance measurement) and provides measured values. The user interprets these values to decide if the result should be a pass or fail. Test functions are manually selected and the user connects equipment using two probes or crocodile clips according to each test function. A portable appliance tester typically also features these same two functions, but also performs additional current leakage and wiring checking tests. Some also perform RCD tests. Appliance testers deliver pass or fail result to the user. Test functions are automatically carried out during a programmed test sequence and relays configure the connections appropriately for each test from an outlet socket and single test lead.

No – not according to state regulation or the AS/NZS3760. However, some institutions and businesses prefer values to be recorded for internal reasons. It can also be useful to know how close the measured value was to the PASS/FAIL threshold. Most appliance testers now provide values in addition to PASS/FAIL result.

A Class I appliance is a protectively earthed appliance. Competent users of appliance testers (usually after completing test and tag competency training) correctly identify equipment classes to determine the appropriate test sequences to perform in accordance with AS/NZS3760 to establish if the equipment is electrically safe.

A Class 2 appliance is a double insulated appliance. Competent users of appliance testers (usually following formal competency training) correctly identify equipment classes to determine the appropriate test sequences to perform in accordance with AS/NZS3760 to establish if the equipment is electrically safe.

These test leads serve two purposes. For earthed appliance tests, the earth return lead is used to provide a return path for the earth continuity test. For double insulated appliances, the earth return lead is used to provide a return path for the insulation resistance test. Neither test can be correctly performed without the use of the earth return lead. Either a crocodile clip or a test probe can be used – whatever is most appropriate for the job. Remember - for double insulated appliance tests, if you don’t use the earth return test lead, you’re not testing anything – even if you get a pass result!

A current leakage test is required if the equipment under test must be powered to operate switching devices. This is because appliances must be in the ‘on’ position in order to test insulation correctly. If the equipment cannot be in the ‘on’ position without being powered (for example a microwave oven), then a current leakage test must be performed. Australian standards also recommend a leakage test be performed for single phase equipment with motors.

No – this is because various brands and models of electrical equipment maybe manufactured differently. Competent users of appliance testers must identify equipment classes to determine the appropriate test sequences to perform in accordance with AS/NZS3760. This is not always straightforward as equipment build and labelling varies so much. It may require experience or knowledge of the equipment’s construction and design.

Not always. An appliance tester is generally only designed to check the electrical safety aspects of equipment. These are conditions that present a risk to a person’s safety. An appliance tester cannot identify functional faults relating to the appliance. Additionally, an appliance tester may not be able to identify other conditions such a short-circuit within the appliance (An electrical condition that present a risk to property). Visual inspections and experience of electrical equipment and testing are an integral component of a test and tag technicians’ competency.

Any colours can be used for test tags. However, Red, Green, Blue and Yellow are generally used within the construction industry as recommended in AS/NZS3017. Black is often used for annual testing. See our colour guide.

There are many different types of test tag and every type has benefits and drawbacks – whether it be durability or price. As a guide:

• Budget tags - best for light duty or office use, great pricing
• Self laminating test tags - great all-round tagging needs
• Wrap around test tags - general purpose low surface area tag
• Flag test tags - heavy duty
• Mastertag - extra heavy duty
  

No test tags are completely UV resistant – the sun can damage all tags regardless of the type. Manufactured self laminating test tags generally offer good UV stability. For printable tags, try to avoid direct thermal tags in high UV exposure areas unless the material is specifically designed to better tolerate these conditions (such as Zebra Thermalock or XL type tags).

Manufacturers typically recommend annual traceable calibration to ensure the accuracy of instruments are maintained. More frequent verification checks by the user are recommended to identify any issues that may arise between formal calibration periods. Periodic inspection of instruments to ensure suitability and accuracy is normally mandated state legislation and or national standards.

Manufacturers are not required to issue a calibration certificate with new instruments. However, most equipment manufacturers will either issue a calibration certificate (which includes measured values) or a certificate of conformity. These are post-production tests carried out by the manufacturer. As values can change over time due to transit movement, environment and other factors post sale calibration or verification is sometimes organised by end users.

Many electrical calibration laboratories across Australia such as Test and Tag Supplies, can perform traceable calibrations on a wide range of appliance tester models. The calibration cost does not necessarily include adjustments to the equipment and does not include repairs. Check with the laboratory prior to calibration to confirm if adjustments are included in the cost of calibration. In most instances only authorised representatives or the test instruments can perform adjustments, repairs or reset calibration reminder reset messages. Test and Tag Supplies can perform calibration on a wide range of appliance tester models. We can perform adjustments, reset calibration reminder messages, and carry out repairs on a selection of models.