Amitabh Sharma, Features - Business

When Buying an electrical appliance, don't just go for good looks. A substandard appliance will underperform, or, in extreme cases, blow a fuse or burn up, posing a potential fire hazard at home.

As the majority of these appliances are imported, there are some critical elements to look out for.

"All appliances that come into the country are tested by us; after they have met our prescribed standards, they are approved for sale," said Garfield Morgan, team leader in the Electrical and Electronics Department of the Bureau of Standards Jamaica.

As per law, he said, electrical appliances should have a permanent mark that gives details of the product.

Here are some other checks that Morgan says you should perform and things to look out for before purchase.

,VOLTAGE REQUIREMENT

The appliance should indicate what voltage it runs on. the prescribed range for Jamaica is between 110V and 220V, depending on the size of the appliance.

FREQUENCY

The frequency indicates the cycle of the power supply. Jamaica has a 50Hertz cycle. "Current tra-vels like waves, and if an appliance is less or more that 50 Hertz, it will not perform optimally," Morgan explained. For example, if you purchase an electric shaver which indicates that it runs on less than the 50 Hertz frequency, it will tend to vibrate and overheat.

"Having an appliance that does not match the frequency shortens its life," Morgan said.

MANUFACTURER'S INFORMATION

Check the manufacturer, where the product was made and who imported the product. "It is advisable to go for known brands, as they are reliable," he said.

If you find a new brand, you can get in touch with the Bureau of Standards, which generates a list of approved appliances periodically.

OPERATING TIME

This tells you how long or under what conditions you should operate the appliance. If you run the appliance for more time than prescribed, it might heat up and this can be dangerous.

UL MARK

This is a certification mark from Underwriters Laboratories, a independent testing organisation based in the United States.

"Appliances with this label ensure that some amount of assessment was done," said Morgan. "We do our own testing here before approving the product for sale in Jamaica."

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

"This is a test that is done for refrigerators, that tells what it would cost to run the machine per year," Morgan said.

The information is displayed on a yellow sticker on the front of the refrigerator.

PHYSICAL INSPECTION

Check for exposed and uninsulated wires; they should be tucked away or covered.

If you are buying a table or pedestal fan, check if the grille space is narrow. A wide space can be dangerous, especially when there are children at home.

Check the plugs. The plug should ideally be three-pin; there should be no cracks on it and the contacts should not be loose.

"Always get a warranty and a receipt for the product," said the team leader. "Ensure that you have an instruction manual in English."

Lastly, before taking the appliance, test to see that it works perfectly.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com