Heavy current test

[graann]

A heavy current test on an earth lead has been around for at least forty years, when I was an apprentice electrician.( A lot higher current than 25 amps )
I never saw the point of trying to burn the earth lead out as it could be severerly damaged after one of these tests and could fail when using the item(mechanical damage)
Why is it the hand held testers do not need to have this facility and can still issue a pass ?

 

[RWJ]

Good Point...

The handheld ones operate a 200ma test current.

I wondered if it was to do with the amount office equipment, which must be 60 - 70% of MOST Pat tested items (a guess).

There is also a huge number of "barley" qualified pat testers.... Someone with the 2377 must be now in a minority, with these one day / half day courses and now even a DVD and online course!
I could see a guy that's done the DVD got a PAT tester with 25A current going testing an office, just to find none of their equipment works after.

I AM NOT KNOCKING THE DVD / ONLINE BEFORE ANYONE STARTS.... I've never seen them so am not able to comment on their quality.

 

[malcolmsanford]

I thought most In service inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment did have the facility to do the "Hard" Test on continuity.

 

[RWJ]

I thought most In service inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment did have the facility to do the "Hard" Test on continuity.

No.....

You look at any of the battery powered handheld testers NONE of them do the high current test, nor do they (obviously) do a run test... and I think (although not 100%) they don't do a leakage test.

Have a look at the spec on our sponsors website
Compare PAT Testers & Portable Appliance Testers

 

[Marvo]

We don't do PAT testing as such where I am but if when I test an appliance earth I use a loop impedance tester which uses a 40Amp pulse. I agree 200mA test wouldn't give much of an idea as to the integrity of the earth connection.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Reason I asked is I don't do much PAT, but have just done a proposal out here, and so was reading the code of practice and just saw in section 10.2

Most portable appliance test instruments(PATs) provide the following facilities

Measurement of earth continuity with one or more pre-set currents up to a maximium of 26A

 

[topquark]

Havent come across an multifunction tester yet that does earth leakage (more's the pity).

 

[topquark]

Havent come across an multifunction tester yet that does earth leakage (more's the pity).

Decided to have a browse and came across this for the new megger MFT 1730: "... auto RCD testing with an additional leakage current measurement option available ..."

Edit: apparently the 1720 & 1730 will do it with an optional accessory:

Current (via optional clamp meter)
±5.0% ±3 digits.
Range 0.1 mA to 200 A ac
Resolution 0.1 mA