Hi SBOB
SBOB said:
well technically....a 'qualified electrician' could
Actually I am not sure that is entirely correct. "Electricians " generally do not test extension cables or make them. You need to do a 1/2 day safety testing course and get a white ticket (is national standard but colour used to vary)
Although some electricians will make extension cables but often at a prohibitive price. I have bought cables pre made from hardware stores and had them fail basic safety testing.
I repair medical devices for a big multinational and my team and I are not Electricians. But we service life saving and sustaining equipment every day to AS3551A and to ISO9001 quality standard and perfectly legal. Believe it or not to safety test and tag a power tool needs a 1/2 day course to get a ticket and use a $250 meter to comply with the law. But to do much more extensive testing of medical devices there is no course available, and no certificate etc!
I have taught others how to perform these tests and maintain a $7000 safety tester and have it calibrated every year. And it is audited every 6 months or so and we are audit ready at any time of day.
I have done the course at TAFE to be a sparky but never could justify the crap pay to do the one years practical as a cable boy to get full ticket.
I can test cables and devices and print certificates that satisfy all the Australian and international standards and any hospital in the country but not accepted on any building site.
I sent 3 people on the 1/2 day course, they all passed, but when questioned the next day they could not answer simple questions nor identify the device they were using was out of calibration date and indeed were using it incorrectly and was actually defective. But they happily stuck tags on over 200 items. I made them do it again after teaching them what the tests were actually doing and why.
I would not wire anything for anybody as not having the electricians licence and the very expensive insurance they must have. But will change plugs and fix appliances in my own home and can test they are safe.
I would not live in a house without safety switches etc. in our repair facility we work on defective equipment and that can often mean the normal "safety" features are also defective but we run a detailed investigation if our safety switch trips.
That is probably enough rant and I would say a competent person who can test their work before it is put into service is what is required even if there may be other "legal" ways there is never a valid reason to cut corners when safety is concerned.
James
Zwitter
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