For FUN only (not funny) PAT test reasons ?

[69er]

Can you spot them all ?
Scenario… uncle Fred’s Need for Speed driver cut out and went off (there’s nothing actually wrong with it as 69er sold it him fully tested and working last week) problem might be in his extension cable says uncle Cyril? Probably just the fuse ,,,, just like they say on eBay ads?

Cyril knows all about wiring a plug … done it for decades.. brown to live blue to neutral green to earth EASY PEASY… and now it’s “fixed” the machine is ON again …Fred’s arcade is real busy. (But the PAT test engineer just visited and Failed it ). WHY?

Clue .. Cyril knows it the extension as the fan heater also went off …

Just list your reasons briefly and there’s a love emoji for anyone who gets every fault especially the real possible breakdown issue ? Not saying how many there is but I will list them in a day or two…..study both pictures you can if desired just answer how many you spot ? So… Not giving other players any clues?

NOTE: I didn’t sell him the machine it’s just a SAFETY FUN QUIZ and I rigged this plug deliberately an hour ago for test purpose ONLY but any of these could harm you ?

 

[Phils Arcade]

No matter how much I stare at this I can see nothing wrong it. Maybe the coloured wires should be a bit brighter so you can tell them apart better, but looks fine to me

I say about 12 or 13 depending on the how you want to categorise them.

 

[eccentric-nut]

Spotted it, I think the fuse wire is wrong it needs to be 30 amp for arcades machines.

 

[TheDaddy]

Looks well standard and is in tip top shape. I will issue a sticker to your address and add this to the ' Electrical Safe ' Register I keep.

Well done norm !

Dave.

Oh one bad thing is no prize !

On a serious note : - I wont list the issues as I did it for a living so unfair

 

[big10p]

I spot 5 issues at first glance. Lol

 

[mlynn]

1. Too much copper on show going to earth terminal.
Should be sleeved up to the last 6mm.
2. Neutral wire shows signs of burning. Replace flex.
3. Neutral wire shows too much copper.
Should be sleeved up to the last 6mm.
4. 13A fuse is too large.
Probably only needs a 5A fuse at most.
5. Flex not held by cable grip.
6. Old Marbo plug with unsleeved line and neutral pins.
Pins discoloured. Probably made before 1987? Replace the plug!
7. Physical damage to plug at bottom left corner.
8. Cuts or bulge to flex about 15 cm away from plug.

And that's only the plug!
Uncle Fred's arcade needs to be brought up to current standards.

 

[Fantazia2]

Theres only one issue for the PAT tester, exposed cable so its an instant Fail, job done, theres my bill.

 

[qjuk]

To add:-

9. Looks like a frayed live wire touching the un-sleeved Earth wire.
10. Just 1 screw holding the plug together (should be two).
11. Looks like 30amp wire wrapped around the 13A fuse.

 

[69er]

Hopefully one or two owners may have been checking their pre-owned working plugs for any of these factors risking personal shock or worse - a house fire.

Remember this is a now working multi extension cable but has simulated issues which are all common. Like no2 very common but I made it difficult to spot on purpose… the 13A fuse itself is NOT wrong as extensions are multi purpose and was running a heater! Most arcade machines only require a 5A fuse in their own plug and many have a 5A fuse in the mains filter anyway ( the exceptions are mains motor driven pushers or kiddie rides etc.)

Answers 10. Plus 1 real fault breaking supply .

1 cable crushed weakening insulation
2 slice of sleeve missing exposing inner wires (see better picture below)
3 Old style plug now illegal no protection on live/neutral pins
4 damage to side flap of plug near live pin
5 Screw missing from cover
6 excess sleeving stripped away from outer
7 cable grip loose allowing sleeving to pull clear
8 excessive green inner insulation stripped
9 resulting stray earth strands close to live terminal
10. Fuse dangerously overrated with a bypass wire which actually caused the REAL fault ……

11. The only reasons a blue neutral wire should burn inside the plug are the terminal screw has become loose , or too few conductor strands in the terminal …. The overrated fuse on live has made the neutral wire the weakest point in the circuit , heating up , acting like the fuse … the pin is discoloured with heat as is the blue wire..

While this is fictional it implies FACTS.
In the scenario Cyril need only tighten the N. Terminal screw and he can carry on until he or his family or customers get a shock or suffer effects of a fire? BE SMART CHECK THOSE PRE-OWNED OR LONG TIME NEVER INSPECTED CABLES AND PLUGS IT COULD SAVE YOU FROM HARM ?

I think many of us have probably seen a few of these issues in the past so …. IS PAT Testing meaningless in public access areas where a child could touch that plug or experience the effect of allowing its use?

Extra picture … too easy to see now but was visible and maybe most dangerous of all … (all these issues are dangerous)
Live conductor almost exposed to touch!
Cose to plug where it’s likely to be grabbed?

Like when playing with any electric or monitors . you can’t see electric !!! It bites.

 

[69er]

Theres only one issue for the PAT tester, exposed cable so its an instant Fail, job done, theres my bill.

Exactly !!! ❤️