Earth leakage meter.. Do I really need one?

[LastManOnline]

While waiting for a reasonably priced earth leakage clamp meter that will do both AC and DC leakage, I find myself asking the question which is the title of this post.And so tonight (been prompted by "Listers" Post) I thought "why not ask the forum? I have to date never not solved any faults to which I have been called to attend. Could I not continue without the earth leakage meter?. Or do I need one to make life easier?. If so., under what circumstances?

 

[MJPD29]

No. My clamp meter has the capability to do it, never used it once.

 

[Mikegh]

I've always managed reasonably well with the IR tester and intuition for RCD trips

I'm looking at them but my gut feeling is you need to spend big to get a useful tester as you said fault current is ac and DC and then ithink there's higher frequencies on top of that, I'm not too well clued in ?

The other thing is with rcbos ,standing leakage becomes less of a problem and faults easier to find with an ir tester

 

[freddo]

I have one, but only use it for low current measuring. Never needed it to measure leakage, as above an IR tester is usually more useful.

 

[pc1966]

Getting one that does DC as well pushes the price up a lot, as it is not a simple current terraformer design. My own suspicion is that DC leakage would show easily on an IR test, though obviously not if it requires some appliance to be energised to cause it.

I think the main selling point comes from checking if the accumulated leakage is worryingly high for an RCD's trip point. Or if you want to measure the consumption of low power circuits but don't want the risk of putting a multimeter in-line (and possibly blowing its fuse form switch-on surges).

But I suspect the majority of "RCD started to trip" faults can be identified without out one as they are likely to show on IR testing, and you probably answered your own question by the fact you have managed fine until now.

If you are a tool-tart then the answer is always easier!

 

[LastManOnline]

Well folks. Comments appreciated and helpful. Will most likely hold off on making any purchase for now

 

[Mikegh]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://download.schneider-electric.com/files%3Fp_enDocType%3DWhite%2BPaper%26p_File_Name%3D998-20482406_GMA-US%2B_Why%2Bto%2Bchoose%2BB%2Btype%2Bprotection%2Bfor%2Bsafe%2Band%2Befficient%2Bpeople%2Bprotection.pdf%26p_Doc_Ref%3D998-20482406_GMA-US&ved=2ahUKEwi-08Cd1M_yAhV54zgGHXICAf0QFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2PT43upv9jWfY9aN1p1z95&cshid=1630015178872

 

[Mikegh]

Double post

Flicking through all that would put me off bothering testing leakage current

 

[cliffed]

I’ve always wanted one, the main reason where it’s not possible to do an IR test correctly, measure the leakage @ source then you have a M Ohm reading to put on Cert.

 

[LastManOnline]

Double post

Flicking through all that would put me off bothering testing leakage current

Good read all the same. One to file away

 

[Mikegh]

Good read all the same. One to file away

Ya they make good docs , only had a flick through and can't say I follow it all, it but when it comes to the A and the B type how will you know whats going on with a basic AC clamp. Leakage current and RCDs is getting so complex

At least with a IR tester you can test all the fixed wiring and basic checks on connected equipment

 

[DPG]

It's nice to know what leakage levels you have on each circuit. See if you are close to nuisance tripping.

 

[UNG]

I think if you need to ask other people to justify a purchase you are considering then you will get a mixed response as we all have our own way of getting to the end result of finding the fault. An earth leakage or low current clamp meter is just another tool in the box to aid that hunt for the problem you are presented with and may speed up the fault finding / identification process or it may not
I do have one of the cheaper earth leakage clamp meters it is not something I use everyday / week or month but it was at the right price at the time. With so many potential parallel earth paths in an installation it is worth making sure that the clamp can accommodate the live and neutral tails of an installation as measuring the imbalance of the current will give a more accurate reading than just clamping the earth conductor

In the last few years I have spent more money on logging equipment than anything else as when the fault is an intermittent fault you can guarantee it will never show when you are on site trying to hunt it down and may only show every few days or weeks. My decision has been and was based on many years of fault finding experience and looking at ways of improving how I went about it, it earns it's keep and me money so that is my justification for it's purchase

 

[LastManOnline]

An earth leakage or low current clamp meter is just another tool in the box to aid that hunt for the problem you are presented with and may speed up the fault finding / identification process or it may not

That's what I have been wrestling with. I will likely continue to faultfind successfully without it but any tool that speeds up the process and makes it more convenient is certainly a well worth while investment. I do however feel it would be a little pointless at this stage to buy one that does AC only as I want to future proof

 

[pc1966]

That's what I have been wrestling with. I will likely continue to faultfind successfully without it but any tool that speeds up the process and makes it more convenient is certainly a well worth while investment. I do however feel it would be a little pointless at this stage to buy one that does AC only as I want to future proof

I suspect for many years you will fine AC leakage from a lot of electronics is the case to worry about for single/dual RCD bards. At least by measuring it you can explain to the customer why the thing is trip-happy.

I am a little sceptical of DC leaks being a big thing outside of PV and EV, even then many EV charges already have that sort of protection built in.

In the UK / ROI with predominantly TN supplies I expect any fault that exposes AC-derived DC to the metalwork will blow the fuse/MCB anyway, though I can understand in the TT would of much of EU the issue of DC appliance leaks might well be of a deeper growing concern.