PAT testing is an essential part of finding faults in electrical appliances however due to a number of mistakes in previous years many people refuse to PAT test computers as they are worried it may damage their machines. This is potentially very dangerous has computers deal with a high amount of electricity and if the machine is faulty it could represent a great risk to its user.
The original mistake happened when computers were first becoming popular and one of the standard PAT tests of the time, the 'flash test', was applied to PCs. The test involved applying 3000V to the insulation casing of a machine to find any breakdowns, however the computers of the day could not withstand this charge and the components were often fried.
As soon as the problem became apparent computer manufacturers created components that could withstand such testing and electrical testing manufacturers created soft tests that could be applied to computers without damaging the machinery. Regardless many users are still fearful that electrical testing can damage their PCs.
The soft testing for computers now primarily consists of the earth bond test and the insulation test. These tests successfully reveal any faults and the insulation test in particular is great and identifying any components that need replacing. The insulation test can potentially damage older components that don't meet the BS EN 675950 standard and these parts should be replaced and it is the law that all computers work to this standard. Finding older components in machines is increasingly uncommon but can still happen.
Applying the right tests to any modern machinery will not cause damage to the components and will help to highlight any dangerous faults that may have gone unnoticed. These faults can develop into serious risks if not found quickly and so regular testing is a must for all regularly used computers. Choosing a professional PAT testing company can go a long way in ensuring faults are found and machine is left working correctly.
The original mistake happened when computers were first becoming popular and one of the standard PAT tests of the time, the 'flash test', was applied to PCs. The test involved applying 3000V to the insulation casing of a machine to find any breakdowns, however the computers of the day could not withstand this charge and the components were often fried.
As soon as the problem became apparent computer manufacturers created components that could withstand such testing and electrical testing manufacturers created soft tests that could be applied to computers without damaging the machinery. Regardless many users are still fearful that electrical testing can damage their PCs.
The soft testing for computers now primarily consists of the earth bond test and the insulation test. These tests successfully reveal any faults and the insulation test in particular is great and identifying any components that need replacing. The insulation test can potentially damage older components that don't meet the BS EN 675950 standard and these parts should be replaced and it is the law that all computers work to this standard. Finding older components in machines is increasingly uncommon but can still happen.
Applying the right tests to any modern machinery will not cause damage to the components and will help to highlight any dangerous faults that may have gone unnoticed. These faults can develop into serious risks if not found quickly and so regular testing is a must for all regularly used computers. Choosing a professional PAT testing company can go a long way in ensuring faults are found and machine is left working correctly.
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