I've never had any problems equipping things. I've only ever had it happen on consumables. I realized that I was able to use a "scroll of power" (or something, I don't remember the exact name) during an experiment so it seems to specifically be a problem when I have to specifically use the item on myself such as with potions and repair kits.
To see if anything appeared in the log I opened a save, lost a fight, started the blacksmith's sidequest, and tried using a potion a couple of times and accidentally discovered that the scroll item worked. The following information was in the log after I exited the game:
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:27:31pm] [ConsoleTrace] Set trace level Debug in file Log.txt
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:28:47pm] custom value
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:28:47pm] custom value
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:28:47pm] custom value
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:28:47pm] custom value
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:28:58pm] 0.03
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:28:59pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:00pm] 0
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:07pm] 0.03
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:12pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:14pm] 0.03
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:15pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:16pm] 0
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:19pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:20pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:22pm] 0.03
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:23pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:24pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:31pm] 0
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:32pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:33pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:34pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:38pm] 0.0345
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:39pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:41pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:43pm] 0.0345
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:44pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:46pm] 0
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:52pm] 0.0345
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:29:54pm] 0.08399999999999999
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:34:25pm] false
[INFO 7/8/2020 07:34:47pm] false