How the Sonel PAT-95 and PAT-96 meters can help ensure the safety of your power tools, machines and welding equipment

The safety of the electrical equipment used by staff and end users is the responsiblity of employers, facility managers and service company owners.  A requirement for regular inspections of electrical equipment is a legal necessity and is part of risk assessments made by an employer for their employees safety.  To help with the testing of electrical equipment such as welding equipment, Sonel has two devices, the PAT-95 and the PAT-96 safety testers.

Compliance testing to the EN 50678, EN 50699, and EN 60974-4 standards

Both meters are designed for electricians, maintenance and technicians who are responsible for the technical and electrical assessment of the condition of power tools, household appliances and three-phase equipment.  The Sonel PAT-96 and PAT-95 meters allow the user to verify compliance with the standards:

  • EN50678 (testing after repair, modification or reconstruction of electrical equipment)
  • EN 50699 (periodic testing of electrical equipment)
  • EN 60974-4 (electrical safety requirements for arc welding machines) requires the PAT-96 for dedicated testing functions for welding equipment.

Testing the safety of a welding machine with the Sonel PAT-96

Welding machine safety testing with the Sonel PAT-96

From a kettle to an industrial machine, Sonel meters provide comprehensive safety testing

The measuring functions in the Sonel PAT-95 and PAT-96 are advanced, allowing you to perform comprehensive safety assessments of all electrical equipment.  From items used daily such as kettles and extension leads through to power tools and three phase industrial machines.  Both of these meters carry out all the essential tests, including:

  • Protective conductor resistance (also with high test currents of 10 A and 25 A)
  • Insulation resistance (up to 1000 V)
  • Leakage current tests (substitute, differential, and touch current)
  • RCD and PRCD tests as well as other required checks.
  • Measurements of active (W), reactive (VAR)  and apparent power (VA), current consumption, THD and power factor.
  • IEC lead testing.

Testing of welding Equipment

The Sonel PAT-96 goes even further by providing the capability to measure open-circuit welding voltage and leakage currents on the primary and secondary sides of welding equipment.

Safety testing of a desk lamp using the Sonel PAT-96

Safety testing of a desk lamp using the Sonel PAT-96

Equipment records and custom test scenarios

In everyday work it is essential that repetitive tasks are easy to streamline, such as the identification and tracking of tested equipment. The Sonel PAT meters are able to communicate with label printers and QR code scanners which enables them to quickly produce equipment labels and instantly retrieve of tested items from a database.

The Sonel PAT-96 works with label printers and QR code scanners

The Sonel PAT-96 works with label printers and QR code scanners, making it easy to register and track tools

Thermal labels are printed on rolls that are resistant to abrasion, moisture, dirt and UV light which is essential for the demanding environments equipment can be used on such as construction sites. Each QR code provides direct access to the history of the meter which ensures the full transparency and easy to access documentation for both the user and employer.

A feature that many users find useful is the built-in wizard for making customer test procedures.  This wizard can be used on the spot during measurements when new devices are needed to be added for testing.  This adds a real flexibility to the devices which enables you to customise tests to a client’s specific requirements and the equipment being inspected, all without pre-programming the meters.

Scanning a code with a scanner connected to the Sonel PAT-96

Scanning a code with a scanner connected to the Sonel PAT-96

Sonel MeasureEffect™ – intelligent measurement management integrated in the meters

The Sonel PAT-95 and PAT-96 meters feature the Sonel MeasureEffect™ platform which is a modern environment for managing measurements, devices and test results.  This gives the user the ability to record data remotely, monitor the testing progress and generate reports automatically for the customer.  It also helps reduce or can even remove the need for traditional paper documentation.  This can speed up testing and can contribute to a companys sustainability and environmental responsibilities.

With Sonel MeasureEffect™ , the entire database of equipment and tools can be available online.  The information is accessible via a web browser or mobile app through an advanced interface which allows for quick assignment of equipment to specific locations or job sites.  The app makes it easy to track where and when each device was last used, who tested it, and what the previous results were.  This level of control translates into better operational organisation, full regulatory compliance and improved user safety.

Applications for the Sonel PAT-95 and PAT-96 testers

The Sonel PAT-95 is a practical choice for self-employed electricians. It is compact, portable and has predefined testing procedures which make the measurements quick and convenient for both home and office environments.  Connecting a label printer to the meter allows you to immediately print and produce a complete set of test results for the client while on site after the measurements are made.

The Sonel PAT-95 and the PAT-96 meters provide complete support for maintenance and health & safety engineers. The meters make it possible to carry out regular and service inspections in full compliance with the legal requirements, without the need to outsource for specialist testing.

For the power tool and construction equipment hire sector, the verifying of user safety is not just good practice – it is a legal requirement. The Sonel PAT-95/96 meters enable the automatic testing of a complete set of electrical safety tests before each rental.  These tests are quick, consistent and in accordance with required standards. The operator can test dozens of tools in a single day, helping to eliminate the risk of renting out faulty or unsafe equipment.

When integrated with the MeasureEffect™ platform, the Sonel PAT-95/96 series also performs well for industrial plants and manufacturing companies as they can serve as a tool for final quality control. With advanced testing features and a fully customisable user interface, each product can be tested quickly and reliably before being packed and shipped to the customer.  One significant advantage of the meters is that multiple devices can work in parallel. Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity ensures that all data is sent automatically to a central database, without the need to manually retrieve results from each device.  This enables the centralised management of the quality control process.

Engineers or shift supervisors can monitor progress results in real time to identify issues, verify the completeness of tests and generate detailed reports for individual production batches.  The platform automatically assigns results to a specific device, operator, date and shift which makes it much easier to track compliance with standards and minimises the risk of human error.

The modern Sonel PAT-95 and PAT-96 are more than just measuring instruments – they are comprehensive tools that can enhance safety, efficiency and the technical capabilities for any company using electrical equipment. By combining proven testing methods, an intuitive interface and the MeasureEffect™ platform, you will gain complete control over the testing process, whether you are a self-employed electrician, a production line operator or a maintenance manager.