Earth Electrode Tester Recommendations?

[Strima]

The time has come for my company to start using a dedicated earth electrode tester as we have some sites coming up that have no supply installed and we need to install electrodes before they can be connected and powered up.

We have a large range of MFTs and I can't justify the expense of having another couple of MFTs which are capable of testing electrodes.

What do people recommend?

I have been looking at Chauvin Anroux, Megger and Metrel base models which seem similarly priced. Even the cheap as chips Kewtech seems to fit the bill.

Does anyone have good or bad experiences of the above?

TBH as we won't have many sites we could potentially hire in but then the Kewtech could end up being cheaper than that for around £218+VAT.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Don’t know whether to choose Kewtech or Kewtech.
This one seems very cheap:
UNI-T UT521 Digital Earth Resistance Tester - https://www.tester.co.uk/uni-t-ut521-earth-ground-tester?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI64igrOjI4AIVxZTVCh1Z0wN5EAkYASABEgLzGvD_BwE

 

[Strima]

Don’t know whether to choose Kewtech or Kewtech.
This one seems very cheap:
UNI-T UT521 Digital Earth Resistance Tester - https://www.tester.co.uk/uni-t-ut521-earth-ground-tester?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI64igrOjI4AIVxZTVCh1Z0wN5EAkYASABEgLzGvD_BwE

That is very cheap. I think the price is putting me off and I've never heard of that manufacturer...

 

[Deleted member 26818]

That is very cheap. I think the price is putting me off and I've never heard of that manufacturer...

I like Metrel for MFTs.
Fluke for Voltage testers, multimeters and volt sticks.
Socket and See for plug testers (their beep is loud enough to be heard just about anywhere in a house when checking which MCB turns off which socket).
SnapOn for battery testers and electronic Torque wrenches.

I think the last dedicated Electrode tester I used was a Seaward, and it was quite complicated.
Have used a DiLog one, but wasn’t that sure of the accuracy.
The Fluke and Megger ones, look over priced.
I wouldn’t trust Kewtech for anything.

 

[rolyberkin]

I have a Megger stand alone earth tester I think it is a DET3TC, have used it about 4 times and is as new in the box. I am probably going to sell it shortly as want to move to an MFT with a built in capability as I am still using a very old Metrel Easitest with no memory. I find that the stand alone testers are fine but as you have pointed out it costs me every year to have it calibrated and I have used it about four times in its life. If you want a decent second hand tester you can have first dibs on it, the calibration runs out on 8th March though and I don't want to pay out to have it calibrated again!;-)

 

[Robson689]

Megger DET5/4D have used for years never let me down

 

[Strima]

I have a Megger stand alone earth tester I think it is a DET3TC, have used it about 4 times and is as new in the box. I am probably going to sell it shortly as want to move to an MFT with a built in capability as I am still using a very old Metrel Easitest with no memory. I find that the stand alone testers are fine but as you have pointed out it costs me every year to have it calibrated and I have used it about four times in its life. If you want a decent second hand tester you can have first dibs on it, the calibration runs out on 8th March though and I don't want to pay out to have it calibrated again!;-)

Cheers for the offer but we have to buy new from approved suppliers to maintain ISO compliances and some other endless poncy stuff.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

The Metrel MI3125E can do earthe electrode testing.
Not sure if the MI3125BT can?

 

[Strima]

The Metrel MI3125E can do earthe electrode testing.
Not sure if the MI3125BT can?

We've got a couple of Metrel MFTs and I'm pretty impressed with them considering their price compared to Megger and Fluke.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

Looking at Test-meter.co.uk, it looks like the MI3125BT can do either 2 or 3 spike tests.
Yes, I quite like Metrel.
The MI3125BT also tests type B RCDs.
One device, one calibration fee.

 

[Strima]

Test meter is one of our approved suppliers and they provide a cracking service.

 

[Marvo]

That is very cheap. I think the price is putting me off and I've never heard of that manufacturer...

Uni-T are a long established global brand which don't sell big in the UK. Not sure why, my guess is because they don't carry the same street cred as Fluke or Megger. Their testers are generally pretty reliable and do what they say on the tin, I've bought a few Uni-T testers over the years and they've always been good value for money.