When we go to work, we assume that all the electrical equipment we use will function well. What we seldom think about is when electrical items start to go wrong! As a business owner, it’s your job to make sure nothing electrical malfunctions.
Why? Because it can increase the potential for personal injury and even fires! As you can imagine, it’s not an easy task at the best of times. Especially when employees bring their home devices and charge them up at work!
Today’s handy how-to guide will show you how to diagnose any electrical issues. By the end of this tutorial, you will know what to do should something not work as it used to do! Here is what you need to know:
Perform some basic checks
If an electrical device fails to work, the first thing to do is not panic! As with any issue, you can only find out what’s going on through a process of elimination. That’s why it is crucial you perform some basic electrical checks.
Here are some examples of what to check:
- Have you switched the appliance on?
- Is the power cord connected to the device and the wall socket?
- Do other devices or appliances work from the same socket?
Sometimes you might get lucky and find the cause of the issue is just down to a loose connection. But, what if the answer to the above three questions is “yes”? In that case, there’s a high chance you’ve got an issue with your appliance or device.
When was everything last inspected?
Each year, you should have a company visit your premises and do an electrical test and tag. The process involves testing all appliances and devices you use and certifying them.
Check that the item in question passed its most recent test and tag inspection. If it’s a new item, you might find the unit was “dead on arrival” and will need a replacement.
Have you checked your fuses and switches?
In some parts of the world, such as the UK, electrical plugs have an inline fuse. If that’s the case where you are, check that the plug fuse hasn’t blown.
If you don’t have a multimeter handy, there is one simple test you can do. Swap the fuse with one from a known working appliance. If it works with your original fuse, your fuse is fine.
You should also inspect the fuses and switches in your fuse box. In some places, this is also known as the “consumer unit.”
Sometimes a high voltage spike can “trip” the switch for a particular electrical circuit. Does your device draw a lot of current? If so, you might need to use a switch with a higher amp rating.
Is the power out?
I know that sounds like an obvious question, but it’s one that needs to get asked! Believe it or not, some people don’t realize that they are in the middle of a power cut.
Usually, that’s because of a supply issue in your local area. Although there are times where the power gets cut because of non-payment. The latter is a rare occurrence, but it does happen!
By doing the above checks, you can narrow down the source of any electrical issues.
