PAT stands for portable appliance testing. It is a systematic safety procedure where plug-in electrical equipment is visually inspected and tested for earth continuity, insulation resistance, and lead polarity. Technicians use a dedicated PAT tester to verify that metal casings are properly earthed and that users are protected from electric shock.
Heard on the job
The contractor is coming in tomorrow to do the PAT on all the office heaters and power tools.
Also heard as
- portable appliance testing
Related terms
Insulation resistance test
DC test that applies a high voltage between conductors and earth and reads leakage resistance in megohms.
Megger
To test insulation resistance with a high-voltage DC tester; also the jobsite name for the tester itself.
Earthing
The practice of connecting electrical equipment and systems to the general mass of the earth.