A Portable Appliance Tester (PAT) is an instrument that is dedicated solely to the safety testing of portable electrical equipment in accordance with recognized national and local standards. Depending on locale, these standards may have been enacted into law. They may be requirements of specific industries or trade organizations, or just a good idea. In many cases, manufacturers of electrical consumer products who wish to export to foreign markets will be required, sometimes by national law, to assure the products have been safety tested. If testing is performed at time of manufacture, it will save money, aggravation and ill will that could result from having the products fail in the destination country.
A Portable Appliance Tester (PAT) is an instrument that is dedicated solely to the safety testing of portable electrical equipment in accordance with recognized national and local standards. Depending on locale, these standards may have been enacted into law. They may be requirements of specific industries or trade organizations, or just a good idea. In many cases, manufacturers of electrical consumer products who wish to export to foreign markets will be required, sometimes by national law, to assure the products have been safety tested. If testing is performed at time of manufacture, it will save money, aggravation and ill will that could result from having the products fail in the destination country.