Review Metrel AlphaPAT MI2142

The AlphaPat is a an automated appliance safety tester  with numerous features including automated test sequences and stores data about the appliance being tested including test results, appliance description, location, retest interval etc. It comes in various forms, from a stand alone unit to full professional kits with printer, scanners etc.

My Alphapat was the first PATAcronym for Portable Appliance Tester – a portable device used for electrical testing of appliances. More I purchased for my test and tagging business and came in the professional “super pat” kit form which included the PATAcronym for Portable Appliance Tester – a portable device used for electrical testing of appliances. More, a printer, scanner, clamp meter, software and a sturdy carry bag.  The scanner provided was a budget version and was fairly unreliable so it was not used very often.  The carry bag was well crafted ( I’m told it was made by a saddle maker ) and is still in fairly good condition to this day.  Both the PATAcronym for Portable Appliance Tester – a portable device used for electrical testing of appliances. More and printer have done over seven years of service and at a guess has performed 200,000+ tests in that time.

Pros

• Easy to use
• Fairly compact
• Very reliable
• Performs all required tests, including 100mA, 10A & 25A earth continuity tests and leakage current tests, three phase testing ( requires adaptor leads etc ) and 15Amp appliance testing
• Compatible with a number of software programs, including SimplyPats
• “Double tag” funtion

Cons

• Non-QWERTY keypad layout ( numbers/alpha similar to mobile phones )
• Keypad – was trouble free for first two or three years but then required maintenance on nearly annual basis ( mine was used in professional high volume situation )
• No battery back up
• Storage limited to 999 records, so requires regular full download and clearing of memory
• No inbuilt RCDRCD is an acronym for Residual Current Device.  They are also known as safety switches. RCDs are designed to protect people from electric shock.     More test function ( not a common feature when first released )
• RS232 comms only – no USB connection (only required if downloading records to a software program)

Summary:

The Alphapat MI2142 is a fairly robust and reliable PATAcronym for Portable Appliance Tester – a portable device used for electrical testing of appliances. More that performs all the required tests as per AS/NZS 3760, including 15 amp appliances and three phase testing (with use of adpator leads etc). Having an inbuilt RCDRCD is an acronym for Residual Current Device.  They are also known as safety switches. RCDs are designed to protect people from electric shock.     More testing function wasn’t common at time of release, however this is now becoming a much more common feature even in mid range PATS.  The alpha/numeric style keypad can initially be slow to use when entering data but with some practice a user can get very good speed up – the side benefit is your txting speed will improve too!
The “double tag” function enable users to test two appliances at once ie two leads, appliance with detachable lead etc. This is a real time saver, especially for high volume users.
Upscaling to incorporate a tag printer makes test and tagging much quicker.
The problem with the keypad requiring regular maintenance is disappointing for an otherwise super reliable and nearly indestructible PATAcronym for Portable Appliance Tester – a portable device used for electrical testing of appliances. More.
As a stand alone unit it’s a very portable and easy to use PATAcronym for Portable Appliance Tester – a portable device used for electrical testing of appliances. More that makes a great entry point for those with several hundred appliances to be done each round of testing.
Upgrading to include a printer is well worth the investment for those with higher volumes to test.

Overall 9/10

By John Blackburn

Do you have an Alphapat?  Let us know your views on it.

This information is general in nature, should be used as a guide only and read in conjunction with the relevant Standard(s), State and/or Federal Legislation, Codes of Practice and Industry Standards specific to your workplace. A proper risk assessment should be under taken before acting on the information provided in this document or any related material. Further information can also be obtained from your local Workplace Authority, Electrical Safety Authority or a suitably qualified persons. This article is copyright protected.