Just to be clear, I am a
supporter of the ideas behind 62353. That is, the adoption of an appropriate sub-set of 60601 for routine testing during maintenance.
As an aside I have been entering "IEC-62323" on job sheets recently against the box marked "Safety Standard used" (or whatever). And no-one has objected (or not even noticed, more like).
What you're saying is fair enough. But I think we can agree that
any move towards dumbing-down is likely to result in standards slipping. I'm thinking more of prevailing attitudes, rather than Standards
per se.Thinking about it a bit more, I guess what I am not so sure about is the idea of "quick and easy". I prefer biomeds to have an awareness of what it is they are actually doing. As has been mentioned a few times before, there are many biomed shops where the workshop tester is left on "auto":- kit gets plugged in, the button gets pressed, and the tech returns (looking for the "passed" announcement) once the
groans associated with "mains on applied parts" have subsided.
If I were in charge, I would hide the automatic tester from time to time and produce the Rigel 233 instead. Or, better yet (if I could find it) the CamSafe and Meggar, just to remind the young pups what electrical safety testing is actually all about.
As a historical (?) note, I have many times been in "needs must" situations myself where all I had was a multimeter, basic tools and a pair of eyes ... and yet was still able to satisfy myself that kit was safe. Also, in over 37 years worth of tests, I guess I have found perhaps less than twenty genuine "failures" at EST.
There have been dozens (hundreds?) of
real failures, however, but these have almost always been apparent even without the need for any test instrument!
Thoughtful examination of the kit (mains plug, fuse(s), mains cable
etc.) is the main "life saver" in my experience (but does little to sell electrical safety test instruments, unfortunately).
OK ... 200 mA is the minimum test current (for earth continuity) under 62353. So what is the maximum? Someone mentioned 8 Amps.
