Earth Leakage Test

DuaneMHunt1976 · Aug 30, 2016

Once asked if a normal Multi Meter could do most of what a PAT tester could (ie saver £££ £350 for the machine an £75 for it to be tested) <Shows how slow i am at recalling things> but some years ago i did 2377-22 and didnt recall it from there.

I do own the 3rd Edition Code of Practice for in-service inspection and testing electrical Equipment and found small note in there about it, but in the 4th Edition seems to vanished, no ref in the index or any thing to it.
Looked online and most posts about it are from 2009 or courses that never updated the information.
So did the Earth Leakage Test die and just said the Insulation Resistance test dose same job.

westward10 · Aug 31, 2016

Not all portable appliance testers have this facility as the most common in-service tests are earth continuity, insulation resistance and functional tests. Some appliances such as heating and cooking appliances however can give "false" IR readings due to the design properties of the heating elements which can be prone to moisture absorption if they have not be used, so you can either switch the appliance on to drive off this moisture or carry out the touch current measurement (leakage test).
In my view using a multi-meter is unprofessional and you should use a tester specifically designed for the purpose of carrying out these tests, some of which give Pass/Fail indication.

Douglassan · Nov 16, 2016

westward10 said:
Not all portable appliance testers have this facility as the most common in-service tests are earth continuity, insulation resistance and functional tests. Some appliances such as heating and cooking appliances however can give "false" IR readings due to the design properties of the heating elements which can be prone to moisture absorption if they have not be used, so you can either switch the appliance on to drive off this moisture or carry out the touch current measurement (leakage test).
In my view using a multi-meter is unprofessional and you should use a tester specifically designed for the purpose of carrying out these tests, some of which give Pass/Fail indication.

DuaneMHunt1976 said:
Once asked if a normal Multi Meter could do most of what a PAT tester could (ie saver £££ £350 for the machine an £75 for it to be tested) <Shows how slow i am at recalling things> but some years ago i did 2377-22 and didnt recall it from there.

I do own the 3rd Edition Code of Practice for in-service inspection and testing electrical Equipment and found small note in there about it, but in the 4th Edition seems to vanished, no ref in the index or any thing to it.
Looked online and most posts about it are from 2009 or courses that never updated the information.
So did the Earth Leakage Test die and just said the Insulation Resistance test dose same job.

A Multi meter and a Megger is all you need

westward10 · Nov 16, 2016

What is a Megger.

Deleted member 72666 · Nov 16, 2016

Dunno, but you'll find it next to the hoovar!

Pete999 · Nov 16, 2016

Next to the volt stick

telectrix · Nov 16, 2016

westward10 said:
What is a Megger.

this is a megger.

westward10 · Nov 16, 2016

I got one of them somewhere.

DuaneMHunt1976 · Nov 21, 2016

If you buy a machine that tells you If it passes or failed, you are slave to the machine.
You have to know what the results at NAD think for yourself. I know multi meters have build in tests with failed and pass are not always right, one could pass another test could fail it, you have to know what the results mean, and not knowing is very unprofessional.

Test on deffiernt makes of multimeter where done at a FE after calibration, some did pass their test board and some failed them, but it is down to the human to know how to use it and if the results are truely OK.

Don't live with a machine tilling if its passed.