Month: February 2025

In 2025, here at PAT Reviews we are taking a fresh look at testers and how they stand up with the changes in the updated Standard: AS/NZS3760: 2022. 

The next tester on our list is the Kyoritsu 6201A. Priced in the $1,000-$2,000 bench mark. You shouldn’t be able to pick this up brand new as a PAT out of the box as it has been superseded by the much nicer (and far less flawed) Kyoritsu 6205. You might happen to find some of these being sold online as second-hand cheap buys that might seem like a steal, but lets take a look how it squares up in 2025. 

To begin, we have to say, the simplicity with its rotary switch to select between different tests is great for the beginner user but from there things take a turn for the worst. As mentioned in our previous post several years ago its design flaw of plugging into the mains would still be an issue for anyone that picks one up – for that reason alone we would say steer clear of the second hand market!

Where this tester does still keep some of its value is the fact that it can display more than just a pass/fail, green or red light indication. You can actually check the test values too, which in 2025 is important to be compliant. 

When it comes to safety, which at PAT reviews we are all about, this PAT has a simple and mostly effective means of ensuring the testing person is aware of when an item under test will be put into “Go mode”. This is indicated by a beeping noise however unfortunately we have noticed that the tone cannot always be heard. However, when it comes to doing powered up tests, its nice that some measures have been taken to protect the user rather than none at all. 

In our past blog we mentioned each test function so we will really briefly look at each (see our previous post for the real sauce). 

For checking the earth continuity, it can only perform a 0.2 Amp (200 milliamps) earth test. For those who are more interested in safety, a 10 amp earth bond test is better for actual safety, not just compliance. 

The next standard test is the 500-volt insulation resistance test which works great. No problems there and its nice to be able to select the 250-volt option needed for certain items. 

Leakage testing is great to have but you won’t be winning any awards for speed. It isn’t designed for speed and compared to other testers on the market you will have a slower time of things. 

The other standard test that is normally required to be performed is a polarity test (when testing leads and power boards) and again this works very quickly, however there is no way of just performing one polarity test in continuous sequence with testing power boards. Its simplicity of each test actually works in its favor here as it doesn’t actually slow down the speed of testing compared to other testers where it would. 

Lastly, PRCD testing is commonly required for testing on many sites or locations but the Kyoristsu 6201A can’t perform testing of PRCD’s 

To finish up this lightning review, this little tester for its purpose does fit what it was designed to do; be a quick basic manual tester. However, we are now in 2025 and sadly this tester doesn’t meet ‘fit for purpose’ with the updated standard. You could argue that it just scrapes in but it does fail in many areas. For one it doesn’t allow for storing and recording test results and you can’t forget about printing options. 

With everything else that is out there on the market in 2025, you have far better options even in the second-hand market available. With a bit of simple research you could find and compare other testers in it price range and get more value (and safety) for your money. 

The 3 big questions:

Q: Does it enable a testing person to comply with all the requirements of ASNZS3760:2022 

A: No, due to not being able to test PRCDs this tester does not quite make the grade for testing to ASNZS3760: 2022 and to add to that it doesn’t give any data collection options.

Q: Is it a safety tester or compliance tester only?

A: Compliance only and even that is borderline

Q: Value for money ?

A: In the past, maybe but in 2025, no absolutely not. 

1.5 and a half stars out of 5

This has all the makings of a great tester, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to finish any of them off. Add some way to record data and a PRCD tester, boost the rest of the features a little more and you have an amazing tester

Happy testing

With 2025 already in full swing, here at PAT Reviews we are interested in this little compact tester; the Sonel, EasiPAT 10. When we reviewed it several years ago it was a good solid safety tester, rather than just a compliance tester like many testers out there are. 

With the change in the Standard AS/NZS3760, now is a great time to see how this tester has held up, whether for good or for bad, lets find out!

Starting off with the user interface. As we mentioned previously, it is designed with simplicity in mind for even those who struggle with tech this tester is easy to pick up and go. With a clear layout and push-button operation, you really can’t go wrong here. 

Something to mention, we were surprised to learn that some companies have done a bit of development since it was first introduced to us. It seems you can get different versions which limit the operational use. Say you didn’t want someone to play around with the settings, well you can get a ‘dumber’ version of the tester that seems to remove the functionality of certain buttons for accidental use. This isn’t something we see very often in a single PAT tester. We even found out there is a hire configuration for say if you were a hire company using this tester. A really nice added touch for different users. Definitely a plus in our book. 

It seems that it still has the basic cell bank memory function, not as great as some other testers out there but with what we are going for, even basic data collection is good and it seems to have paid off, as the Standard does seem to say numerical records must now be kept for third-party companies testing. This would mean it just snuggly fits into the category, which sees it have some future proof as tester design, great to see. 

When it comes to standard test features it seems not much has changed here. It performs 0.2 Amp (200 milliamp) and a 10 Amp earthbond test, making it a real safety tester rather than just a compliance tester.

It performs your standard 500 volt Insulation Resistance test, as well as your 250 volt Insulation Resistance test for those items that have more delicate circuitry that a 500 Volt test could damage. The leakage test is still the same and we are just as impressed with the flashing red and green lights before a powered up test to warn the user-really designed with safety in mind!

Next up you have polarity, which no surprises there it is pretty straight forward. It’s a little disappointing you don’t have the multiple test function for powerboards within a single test, but for its price range it can’t have everything. 

You can perform your PRCDs with ease but again, you can’t do your installed RCDs, so if you come across a lot of them, maybe this isn’t the best option for you. 

Where this does get a bit wild is 3-phase testing. We had no idea this tester could perform 3-phase, it was like a punch in the face kind of find out! Talk about a big upgrade.

It turns out it has, since our last review, been developed to work with test 3-phase appliances using specially designed test equipment for the EasiPAT 10. This is a really great feature to have available for certain users looking for this option at its price point. A huge plus for upgradability too. 

Conclusion:

Overall this tester sits well in the beginner range testers but with the added upgradable options, could be pushed to the mid-Ter tester range giving a wider range of options without sacrificing on safety. It can be used with several printer set up options and a tablet. The downside though would be that the printer has to work through the tablet. Once its set up though it seems to work well. In 2025 this seems to be a small PAT tester with some big surprises, a punch above its weight for sure.

The 3 big questions:

Q: Does it enable a testing person to comply with all the requirements of ASNZS3760:2022 

A: Yes, it fits snuggly into the standards new requirements with numerical test values and recording of data.

Q: Is it a safety tester or compliance tester only?

A: In 2025, we can confidently say it is still in fact a safety tester and not a compliance tester.

Q: Value for money?

A: While I’m not sure you will get it for the same price when we did our previous review (before covid) it is still good value for money with now numerous upgrade options to fit a users changing needs.

4 out of 5 stars

This has all the makings of a great tester, unfortunately it doesn’t seem to finish any of them off. Add some way to record data and a PRCD tester, boost the rest of the features a little more and you have an amazing tester

Happy testing