Portable Electrical Equipments

A portable appliance is one connected to a socket outlet.

Mind you if you consider a washing machine portable you must have arms like He-Man, I get a bad back just thinking about moving mine.

You are correct. But what really are portable equipments? It means the equipments connected to the power supply and intended to be moved when it is in used. That means of "intended to be moved when it is in used"?

"Could you list them out and see if they are portable ones?"

Do you honestly think people have got time to sit and write a list for you?

I am sorry. This topic should be closed here.

There may be a good reason for this question, such as complying with local electrical code provisions for portable equipment. The local code may have its own definition.

If the equipment is on wheels, weighs less than say 50 pounds, and/or is connected by a flexible cord and plug, it would normally be considered portable.

TonyS has a pretty good start; things with a cord that plug in. However, I do not consider my refrigerator, chest freezer, or clothes washer machine to be portable.

I looked in all the internet resources I am familiar with for the phrase "portable electrical equipment", and got nothing. Perhaps it is discretionary, meaning different thing to different people. On second thought, nobody thinks a 19 Ft³ refrigerator is portable. Tornado has a pretty reasonable solution.

Hi,

My question did not mean that I needed someone to work out a list for so-call portable electrical equipments.

Yes, I agree that there might be certain difference between some locations. But I do think that the understanding is same for everyone. That means the portable equipment might be something movable when it is in use.

I am asking myself that a portable equipment implies hand-held equipments and portable equipments which has a wheels or electrical lead/plug to move... If it is, I am very clear on this so refrigerator/tv... would not be portable equipments.

In term of safety, if you will set up a safety regulation for your location, would you put the printer, oven, adapter... into portable equipment list? Since they need electric supply and have their lead and plug. We all can see that there would be a need for those equipments to be in the list.

If they are, there would be a conflict in term of definition. So, how could we settle these things down?

In my opinion a portable equipment should be small or low weight equipment to be carried or moved from place to place for doing some work by an individual including females. Examples are: hand drill,grinder,jig saw,food mixer,radio,mobile phone,electric iron etc This may not include TV,refrigerator,window air conditioner,water geyser which are heavy. For correct interpretation refer NEC/BS/IEC/VDE/IEEE etc

Pnaban:

What is really portable equipment and hand-held equipment?

After finish the list, we will give them the specific tags for inspection. In term of safety, we will try to limit the gap between TV or hand drill to the smallest.

Of course, it depends on peopel thought but thing would be much different when we put in in one organization.

So the problem is how we can combine these equipments and give them specific tags and inspection schedule?

Based on the replies so far, opinions vary on what is "portable," but the OP really should refer to whatever codes apply in his jurisdiction. Here in USA, the National Electrical Code defines Portable Equipment as "Equipment fed with portable cords or cables intended to be moved from one place to another" (section 520.2).

That includes items that people commonly move around, plug and unplug, and transport such as hand drills, hair dryers, vacujm cleaners, etc. It also includes appliances such as coffee makers, mixers, free-standing lamps, refrigerators, personal computers, etc., even though we may often set them in one place and leave them there. If it is hard-wired to its electrical supply, then it is not "portable," even though the item may be small enough to be moved if it were disconnected.

Virtually the same for the UK. In an industrial situation all equipment fed by a "disconectable" supply must be subject to a 6 monthly PAT (Portable Appliance Test) test. Whether it be a drill or the freezer in the canteen.

PerterT:

You are correct and I agree with that. Our company is a multinational and the policy is set from top down. Lets say, if the company regulation is higher than the local one. We will then follow the company one.

Back to the portable equipments. Yes, we have set up a list of those kinds with in general are same as what we are discussing here.

Thing now is how we are gonna give tag and check them? How to recognize of what equipments already done and still in good condition? We have several functions through the site such as warehouse, office, production...

We have gone through some methods and they are, for me, still unclear. Moreover, I am not the one who does not think. I am thinking so I ask these.

You know, it is just like when you are in the meeting. If you are not well preapred. You then soon to be passive and your plan would may be leaded to the certain wrong ways.

Lots of good answers. I'd like to add that it may be an idea to specify equipment test and tagging frequency based on environment. I suspect this already specified somewhere as it is in oztralya, 'ay. So where subject to harsh environment and flexing/movement in normal use is 6 monthly (workshops), 12 monthly where cord is subject to flexing in normal use OR hostile environment, office equipment are 5 yearly (as is an office within a workshop), "specified electrical equipment" does not require tagging if connected to a 30mA RCD, is under 20amp, and subject to movement in normal use.

AS/NZS 3000 defines portable appliance as "Either an appliance that is moved while in operation or an appliance that can be easily moved from one place to another while connected to the supply".

And after that if still not sure, take the safety approach and do a risk assessment - it may cover your butt one day.