What's coming between you and the power lines?

In a word: INSULATION

It is a sobering thought: without insulation, your body becomes just another part of the power grid.

If you are safety conscious, you might be taking comfort in the fact that your electrical appliances and tools display one or more logos of certification authorities such as CSA, UL, ULC, ETL (etc).

But, What does the display of those logos really mean? Let's think it through...

We know that those logos were already affixed to the product when it was newly purchased. So it is clear that the manufacturer was required to display them: they are an indication that the design and the subsequent manufacture of the item complied with the standards (laws, regulations, 'codes') that were in effect, at the time of sale.

But, it is a fact that — unlike your salad dressing — you have never seen an "expiry" or "best-before" date on the certification label of your desk lamp, toaster, or electric tools.

And, now you may ask yourself: What, exactly, does the absence of an expiration date imply — ?

Does it mean that my electrical devices will always be safe — no matter how old, and no matter how much abuse is heaped on them? and,
If safe function is NOT guaranteed forever, How could I possibly know when it has "expired" ?

Electrical-standards compliance labelling* does not guarantee that the device will be safe after being put into service

*(such as those of the CSA, UL / ULC (et cetera)

Re-test. Re-assure.

We've seen that electrical Insulation — also referred to as isolation — is the very foundation of electrical safety. Insulation must meet applicable Standards when it leaves the factory, but it degrades with time and exposure to adverse conditions. And, because of the unpredictable degree of degradation over time, no certification label (such as CSA, UL, ULC, ETA...etc) provides the guarantee that the device will remain safe indefinitely, once it enters service.

Degradation of the insulation increases power leakage out of the current-carrying conductors. Leaked current tries to find its way to surfaces that the user is touching. And, even a small leakage of electrical current through the human body can be fatal — particularly for the very young, the elderly, and those with cardiac conditions.

If you are an employer — or if you are a provider of client services such as:

tool rental;
nursing-home care;
day-care;
hospitality; or,
teaching, workshop, and studio facilities—

it is your responsibility to assure that the electrical devices you provide to your employees and clients are safe.

Given that it is your responsibility, and if you don't regularly re-test them to like-new electrical standards ... then....

Hover over the icons below to learn more about insulation degradation!

The values 1-to-1000 indicate the current level in milliAmperes (mA) required to cause those physiological effects in an average, healthy, male subject. It assumes alternating current at about 50-60 Hz

Healthy female subjects have a "cannot let go" threshold of only ~ 6 mA

Observe that — even with an installed GFCI device — those who are not healthy and/or not in the-prime-of-life are at higher risk which may include death.

How could you possibly know that your devices are, in fact, safe?

Insulation Damage

Mechanical Damage

Cuts, splits, cracks, internal breaks due to tension or bending... these are all examples of mechanical damage that compromise electrical insulation

Contamination

Electrical devices and their exposed internal wiring can become contaminated with dust, lint, oily mists, metallic and semi-metallic particles, and salts. Alone or in combination, with or without water vapour and condensation, contamination is sneaky.

Overheating

Overheating — usually by excessive loading of motors — is worsened by the restriction of cooling-air. Insulation can soften, melt, ooze, and even burn. Overheating damage is cumulative. Embrittlement and cracking leaves the insulation vulnerable to contamination and mechanical damage.

Surge and Lightning

Pulses of abnormally high voltage can cause electric current to exploit the weakest pathway through the insulation. Each time that path is used, it is further weakened — each time, requiring successively lower voltage to leak. Eventually, the device can become unsafe for the user even at the normal operating voltage.

Oxidation, corrosion

Overheating and ozone exposure often cause embrittlement and tiny cracks ('crazing'). Electrical power can leak along these cracks — exacerbated by contamination.

Chemical fumes and moisture can cause corrosion; the corrosion products (salts) can form electrical-leakage pathways, particularly under humid conditions.

Combined Damage

Almost any combination of insulation damage can be present and, in fact, it is probably the most common situation

About Us

Welcome to PeregrineSafeTest — your reliable electrical-safety test-and-tag service-provider for corded electrical devices!

Re-testing by PeregrineSafeTest aims to ensure the compliance and safety and of corded devices such as power tools, extension cords, appliances, portable generators and air compressors, DC-AC inverters, solar charge controllers, office equipment, point-of-sale equipment, signage, light fixtures, home-entertainment equipment; hair cutting-and-styling equipment; exercise equipment, tanning beds, heating pads and electric blankets ... and much more.

In-circuit testing of ground-fault-circuit-interruption (GFCI) and arc-fault-circuit-interruption (AFCI) receptacles and circuit-breakers provides independent means of verifying their proper function which is, ultimately, your safety.

We also perform solar-panel wet (immersion) testing to IEC 61730 (UL 1730 )

Quite simply: we test your electrical equipment using specialist, automated, purpose-built instruments that are properly calibrated to assure accurate results.

After your equipment passes its test, we tag it with a discreetly placed, uniquely coded, tamper-proof-and-water-resistant label that tracks its identity and status.

Let us help you keep your electrical equipment — and you! —safe and secure!

So, what does this "test-and-tag" mean ?

Tests performed

The testing process

You don't need to be Sherlock Holmes to see some of the outward signs that could indicate an unsafe electrical device. But others are more subtle, and experience counts!

Visual Examination

We examine the overall condition of the device for defects such as: plugs with missing prongs or having other damage; split, cut, or crushed insulation (etc); gross contamination; indications of overheating; and damaged housings.

If the device was equipped with a 3-prong grounding-type plug at the factory, it is a vital item of safety equipment! When the insulation fails, this connection to ground must be a MUCH better conductor of electricity than the human body. The ground-wire and all of the connections must be, essentially, like new.

Only a proper ground-bond test can determine this: a simple check for 'continuity' can be fatally misleading!

Ground-Bond Testing

Ground-bond testing measures the resistance between the ground-line of the power cable, and the housing or frame of the device. The grounding connection must be robust enough to carry enough current to trip the circuit breaker, while keeping persons safe from current tracking through their body. This test must also be applied to extension cords!

These tests establish the overall state of the insulation in both conventional (grounded) devices, and in 'double insulated" devices equipped only with two-prong polarized plugs.

DC and AC Voltage Withstand (Hi-Pot)

Often referred to as 'hi-pot' tests — an abbreviation for 'high potential', i.e., 'high voltage' tests — AC-W and DC-W tests measure the rate of electrical leakage, across the insulation to the housing or ground, when subjected to a higher-than-normal voltage

Because electric blankets are prone to arc-type faults, bedroom power outlets are often connected to arc-fault-circuit-interrruption ('AFCI') circuit-breakers in the household power-distribution centre. Such breakers detect arcs at normal operating voltage. Our systems subject the device to higher-than-normal voltages during the tests, and typically uncover the defects leading to arc-faults sooner - before they can endanger the user during normal-voltage operation!

Arc-fault Detection

An arc (spark) may form between current-carrying conductors and the ground (housing or frame of the device). Devices that often exhibit arc-faults are heating pads, electric blankets, laboratory heating mantles, and similar products having fine-wire resistive elements embedded in a flexible insulating mat.

IR testing reports the condition of the insulation as an overall resistance value (typically in the mega-Ohm to giga-Ohm range) obtained during exposure to a steady-state high voltage, which voltage exceeds the normal operating voltage. IR differs from "hi pot" testing inasmuch as, for example, the hi-pot stressing voltage ramps to a maximum value and the hi-pot pass-fail criteria is based on the measure of current flowing to ground.

Insulation Resistance Testing

IR testing measures the overall resistance between current-carrying conductors and ground (earth). Transformers and motors are commonly tested with this method.

Solar panels / photovoltaic systems are becoming commonplace and as the saying goes, "familiarity breeds contempt" or, at least, casual disregard. It is easy to become complacent because the DC power storage banks are typically 12, 24, or 48 volts. But higher voltages can — and do — exist within the photovoltaic system. It is not unusual for single panels to have open-circuit voltages of 90vdc, and by series connection of panels the voltage may easily exceed 200vdc.

Solar-Panel Wet Testing

All of the larger solar panels can produce voltages higher than 48vdc, meaning that they are not considered to be " intrinsically safe". Because they are subject to thermal and mechanical stresses, UV degradation and chemical weathering, periodic re-testing is warranted — particularly when repairing an array or relocating its panels.

GFCI and AFCI devices have built-in self-testing circuitry. If the built-in self-testing circuitry is defective — for example, it applies too LARGE of a leakage — the device would probably still 'trip', but the test isn't properly checking the sensitivity of the GFCI device. This can lead to people being exposed to greater hazard levels. The only way to be sure is to use a calibrated external tester to cross-check the internal testing circuitry.

GFCI & AFCI Testing

Applicable regulations (codes) specify where the installation of GFCI and AFCI devices are mandatory (additional locations are optional). Both types must be regularly tested. Although most have self-test ability, an independent (external) method of testing is a reassuring cross-check.

Repairs may include the replacement of defective plugs, trimming of cords to remove damaged sections, cleaning to remove contamination and corrosion. Typically, such repairs are much cheaper than replacing the appliance or tool.

Repair and re-test

We can usually offer cost-effective repair-and-retest services for devices that have failed their initial tests.

Contacting, Scheduling

PeregrineSafeTest: Your One-Stop Safety Re-testing Service for Corded devices — and more!

PeregrineSafeTest provides professional safety-testing services for virtually all types of corded electrical devices.

We use programmable / automated, purpose-built specialty testing equipment. We keep our instruments properly calibrated for accurate and reliable results.

Our experienced team ensures that all electrical devices are thoroughly tested for safety and Standards compliance.

We are committed to keeping your workplace and home safe from electrical hazards. Let us take care of your testing needs so that you can operate safely and have peace of mind.

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