Advice on Voltage Testers please.

[Deleted member 105166]

I’ve decided to go for the Megger. It looks a nice piece of kit. I’m sure it will last many years.

On the subject of Multimeter, are they worth getting or would it be better saving for a MFT?

If you need to test small voltages accurately, or if you need to measure DC voltage, capacitance, etc. then you'll need a multimeter. They can also be useful for recording min/max readings on AC circuits over a period of time. But if you'll mostly be house bashing, it's a nice to have, not an essential.

Remember what you've been taught on safe isolation too, I.e. you must use a two pole tester, not a multimeter or MFT (or neon screwdriver or voltage pen).

You'll need an MFT, as these do tests that you can't do with a multimeter, such as IR, PFC, RCD tests.

Finally, if you do get a multimeter, think very carefully about what live tests you do with it, as its not designed to do what an MFT does, and apart from a fuse, offers no protection against doing the "wrong" live test. Check out some of the exploding multimeter videos online, they focus the mind somewhat.

 

[Tonch_cro]

I'm in market for 2 pole voltage tester and most budget friendly option that fullfils my conditions (smaller is better, voltage reading, continuity test) is Voltcraft VC 55.(Other option is Uni-T UT 18 D, but I don't know if it is any good.)

It is probably same as Megger TPT320 and Metrel MD1160, just in different colour, so I would appreciate if anyone has feedback regarding Megger or Metrel. Thank you!

 

[ruston]

I’ve decided to go for the Megger. It looks a nice piece of kit. I’m sure it will last many years.

On the subject of Multimeter, are they worth getting or would it be better saving for a MFT?

I have the one in the link.
It does not display a readout for resistance , only buzzes.
It is very sensitive on resistance and if you have the probe ( all safety checks assumed done) covers removed and touch the tips, if your fingers are the least bit moist it will buzz and may give a false continuity reading.
Other than those observations it is a lovely tester.

 

[ruston]

Duplicate.

 

[Tonch_cro]

Ruston, thanks for info! I can live with that, it is first on shopping list

 

[telectrix]

or one of these like wot i have.

i also got this.:

and should either of these fail, there's always a wet finger.

 

[ChipFanDave]

I have this one it comes in its own case and the proving unit is easily used through the test probe holes in the bag.

 

[Pete999]

I have this one it comes in its own case and the proving unit is easily used through the test probe holes in the bag.

I have this one it comes in its own case and the proving unit is easily used through the test probe holes in the bag.

Agree best one I ever had no gimmicks, does what it says on the box good bit of kit. expensive but worth it, in my opinion.

 

[edexlab]

Never used a proving unit ever until recently

I tend to carry a Martindale AVI (after my Steinel broke) also have a clamp meter , multimeter and a Drummond all in the same bag, but only use the AVI's for checking voltage is present etc

One thing that annoys me is most makes the probes are quite chunky and some isolators don't have holes big enough to make contact

Previously always used known supply, seemed like a large outlay for something rarely needed for the type of work I used to do as there was always a socket or something that could be utilised

However moved into more industrial work a few years ago and had several occasions recently on sites where using a known supply wasn't allowed as it usually meant opening a panel etc and a proving unit was needed ,

Daft rules I had to prove dead then lock off etc only to be turning panel back on after dead testing to faultfind components which was allowed !

Spent 30 mins looking around at various sites and saw a used RS branded proving unit on eBay

I bid a fiver and won it, so with postage came to just under 8 quid , new battery fitted worked fine and probably the best bargain I've ever had tool wise!

 

[NDG Elecs]

I've had my fluke T5 for around 7 years at a guess. Works a treat still. Continuity readings start off a little high when the batts are low, but then I don't use it to get accurate readings as such. The croc clips are a good addition to have.
My only gripes would be that you can't zero the leads, and the annoying curved back which stops it from sitting still when using both probes.

 

[edexlab]

Dont know if anyone has noticed my profile picture?
It's an Indian AVI

 

[edexlab]

For those who haven't seen this before it's two lamps in series
Testing 230v lamps are lit but dim
400v both lamps are full brightness

 

[edexlab]

I saw the guy an Indian electrician bring it when he came to turn power on to our panels on a job
He was a bit bemused that I wanted a photo of it as it's either one of these or a neon screwdriver for them

He asked what we used
So I showed him the Steinel probes I had then

He looked at them and said "How is it working Sir"?

Gave him a quick demo and for the next few days he kept bringing his mates round for a look and I had to repeat the demo and let them all have a go!

 

[ChipFanDave]

Drummond test lamp copy, typical bloody Indians !

 

[AminAmin]

I have Scopemeter Voltcraft 707,
I cant found any data of Scop???
You help me for any data of frequency? Bandwidth?