Test & Tag Geelong
On-site appliance testing and tagging for rental properties, workshops and workplaces across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast, by CabledIN
Test & tag in Geelong by CabledIN means a licensed electrician (REC 30925) comes to your property or workplace, inspects and electrically tests each portable appliance, lead and power board, fits a dated tag to every item that passes, and gives you a written register of the results.
We quote from an item estimate or a quick walk through. A small job is usually done in a single visit. Larger sites are booked in stages so work is not held up.
- What is tested
- Appliances, tools, extension leads, power boards, safety switches
- What you get
- A dated tag on each item and a written register
- Where
- On site, at a time that suits you
- Who does it
- Licensed electricians, REC 30925
What test and tag is
Test and tag is a routine safety check for electrical equipment that plugs in. It has three parts.
- Inspect. Most faults can be seen: a cut or crushed lead, a cracked plug, exposed inner wires, burn marks, a missing guard or a loose cover.
- Test. A portable appliance tester checks what cannot be seen, such as whether the earth connection is intact and whether the insulation is still doing its job.
- Tag. An item that passes gets a durable tag showing when it was tested, who tested it and when it is next due.
An item that fails is tagged out of service and taken off the floor, so nobody plugs it in by mistake.
Who needs test & tag in Geelong?
Anyone responsible for a place where other people use electrical equipment, such as:
- Builders and trades. Tools and leads that live in a ute and work outdoors take the hardest wear of all.
- Furnished rentals and accommodation providers. Appliances supplied for other people to use.
- Workshops. Power tools, extension leads, tool chargers, welders and portable lighting, including three-phase equipment.
- Offices and shops. Computers, monitors, kettles, microwaves, heaters, power boards and phone chargers.
- Cafes and commercial kitchens. Appliances that work around heat, water and grease.
- Schools, childcare, clubs and community halls. Shared equipment that many people handle.
Your own workplace safety system or a head contractor will often set the requirement and the timing. Tell us what they have asked for and we will test and report to match.
For your own home, the more useful check is an electrical safety inspection of the switchboard, wiring and safety switches.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
What we test
- Portable appliances. Anything with a flexible lead and a plug.
- Extension leads and power boards. These fail more often than the appliances plugged into them.
- Power tools and chargers. Including the leads supplied with them.
- Three-phase equipment. Machines and leads with three-phase plugs.
- Safety switches (RCDs). Portable safety switches and the fixed ones in your switchboard can be tested in the same visit, with the push-button test and a trip-time test.
Fixed wiring is a separate check. If you also need the switchboard, power points and wiring looked at, that is an electrical safety inspection, and we can do both in one booking.
How test and tag works on the day
- Arrive and plan. We agree an order with you that suits the day: empty rooms first, busy desks at lunch, machines between shifts.
- Work through each area. Each item is unplugged, inspected, tested and plugged back in. Computers and other equipment that needs a proper shutdown are done at a time you choose.
- Tag. Passed items get a new tag. Failed items get an out-of-service tag and are handed to the person you nominate.
- Record. Every item goes into the register with its location, description, result and next test date.
- Report. You receive the register and a short list of anything that failed and why.
It helps if staff know we are coming, and if tools and leads that normally leave the site are brought in on the day.
How often equipment should be retested
It depends on the equipment and where it is used. A lead dragged across a building site wears far faster than a monitor that never moves, so equipment in harsh settings is retested much more often than equipment in an office.
We set the next test date on each tag to suit the item and its environment, and to match any interval your safety system or head contractor specifies. The register lists every due date, so you can see what is coming up without walking the site.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
What happens when an item fails
A failed item is not a disaster. It is the reason for testing. The most common failures we see are damaged extension leads, cracked plugs and power boards that have been overloaded.
We tag the item out of service, tell you what failed, and tell you honestly whether it is worth repairing or cheaper to replace. If the testing shows a bigger problem, such as a safety switch that does not trip or power points that are damaged, we can quote the repair: see safety switch installation, power point repairs and switchboard upgrades.
Why use a licensed electrician for test and tag
When a licensed electrician does the testing, the person who finds a problem can also fix the wiring behind it. If a workshop keeps failing leads, the cause may be the way the power is laid out, and a few extra outlets in the right places can remove it. We do that work too, along with commercial lighting.
- Licensed Victorian Registered Electrical Contractor, REC 30925
- More than 20 years' experience, based in North Geelong
- Lifetime workmanship warranty on electrical repairs
- 2,000+ five-star Google reviews
- 24/7 emergency call-outs if something fails between visits
Frequently asked questions
How long does test and tag in Geelong take?
A small batch of items, such as a furnished rental's appliances or a tradie's tools and leads, is usually finished in one visit. Larger workshops and multi-building sites are booked in stages so that work can carry on around us.
How often does equipment need to be tested and tagged?
It depends on the equipment and where it is used. Gear on construction sites and in workshops is retested far more often than equipment in an office. Each tag and the register show the next due date.
Will testing interrupt my day?
Each item is unplugged for a few minutes. We plan the order with you, and computers or machines that cannot be stopped during the day can be done before or after hours.
What is written on the tag?
The date of the test, who carried it out and the date the item is next due. The same details go into the register with the item's location and result.
What happens if an appliance fails?
It is tagged out of service and removed from use. We tell you what failed and whether it is worth repairing or should be replaced.
Do you test safety switches as well?
Yes. Portable safety switches and the fixed safety switches in your switchboard can be tested in the same visit, and the results are recorded in the same register.
Do you test three-phase equipment?
Yes. Three-phase machines and leads can be tested along with single-phase appliances. Tell us roughly how many you have when you ask for a quote.
Do I get a report?
Yes. You receive a register listing every item tested, its location, the result and the next test date, plus a list of anything that failed.
Do I need test and tag at home?
Test and tag is aimed at equipment that other people use, such as tools on a building site, appliances in a workplace or those supplied in a furnished rental. In your own home, having the switchboard, wiring and safety switches checked does more for safety.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.