As a consensus of opinion portable
appliances are:
Hand
held whilst being connected to the electical supply. Intended
to be moved whilst connected to the electical supply. Capable
of being moved without undue difficulty whilst connected
to the electical supply.
As a basic rule of thumb in portable
appliance testing, portable appliances are not just
those that have a 3 pin plug on the end. To give a clearer
picture, below are some examples of different types
of equpment that should be tested.
Portable appliance
An appliance of less than 18kg in mass that is intended
to be moved whilst in operation or an appliance which
can easily be moved from one place to another, e.g.
vacuum cleaner, toaster, kettle, or this desk lamp.
Movable equipment (Transportable)
Inlcudes un fixed equipment of 18kg or less in weight
and intended to be moved from one location to another,
for example a portable electric fire.
This quipment may be provided with castors, wheels or
other means to assist movement by the operator for example
this mobile air conditioning unit.
Hand Held equipment
This is portable equipment intended
to be held in the hand during normal use, for example
this soldering iron or a hair drier.
Stationary equipment
This equipment has a weight exceeding 18kg
and is not provided with a carrying handle, e.g. refrigerator
or this drinks vending machine. In commercial environments
such as shops you often have large freezer cabinets
which fall into this category.
Fixed Equipment
This is equipment or appliance which is fastened
in a specific location for example in this picture of
a hand drier. In a hotel environment particulalry there
are often hair driers or kettles are hard wired into
a fused spur.
Built in Equipment
This equipment is intended
to be installed in a prepared space such as a kitchen
cupboard designed to accept it. Usually such equipment
has additional protection from electric shock by the
fact that all sides of the equipment are not accessible.
For example a built in electric cooker, dishwasher or
refrigerator.
Information Technology (IT) Equipment
IT equipment includes the usual mains powered
electronic business equipment such as computers, monitors,
fax machines and photo copiers. For example in this
picture both the computer and monitor.
Hand
held whilst being connected to the electical supply.
