Megger MFT 1730 Calibration Fail

[odawire]

Hi, just got a bit of a shock this morning, turns out my Megger has failed calibration and needs to go back to Megger for a "fixed price" repair charge of £426.24 (inc VAT) and that's before it gets re calibrated!!
I had a feeling that it might still be in warranty but after checking found out it had just passed, 2 months.

I don't expect anything to last forever without some maintenance but for that kind of money I would expect a decent warranty on the work (2 years seems fair to me) but no, 3 months!

I cant see what the point of buying decent test equipment is at these kind of costs, I can buy a half decent one new for that money which is what I'm probably gonna do and try and repair the Megger myself.

I don't think ill ever bother buying what I thought was a decent one again.

Can anyone point me in the direction of any info on the web that might assist me, I'm assuming it might need a new circuit board, and what are the chances it might just be a dry joint or something like that?

I haven't had any problems with the functioning of the meter.

The calibration house has told me "The unit failed calibration on impedance tests, low on 1R" if that helps.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Stevesplatto]

Isnt it a year guarantee on a Megger? Try speaking to them direct. They may well give you some leeway.
Steve

 

[Former Sponsor TM]

A one year warranty is provided as standard with the MFT's, although this is extended to three years if the product is registered on Megger's UK website and was purchased from an authorised UK distributor.

 

[telectrix]

try and google a firm called the calibration centre, in stafford. they do repairs with calibration included. a lot cheaper than megger. phone them. afaik, they give you a cost before proceeding with a repair.

 

[Leesparkykent]

£426.24 is outrageous.

 

[Andy78]

I've not heard many good things about this top of the range model to be honest.

 

[odawire]

Yes I have spoken to Megger, they did offer a cheaper price (just knocking off the calibration centres mark-up, which I don't actually begrudge them). They also confirmed the 90 warranty; its three years from new. I think I might have gone ahead if they offered a decent warranty. I will try the calibration centre. Thanks

 

[odawire]

Has anyone tried the Martindale ET400?

 

[timbobelfast]

What did it fail calibration on, continuity??
Sounds like a racket to me with those quoted prices!

 

[AndrewMgan1976]

£426.24 is outrageous.

Almost cheaper to buy a brand new tester

 

[Andy78]

Just outside the warranty you say ? Food for thought.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/mar/25/consumernews.howtocomplain

 

[Leesparkykent]

Almost cheaper to buy a brand new tester

Dilog 9083P 17th Edition Multifunction Tester
yeah this one is £390 all in. I know it's not going to be on par with the megger but still.....

 

[Darkwood]

Your covered by the consumer rights act 1979... this goes beyond any warranty and any item purchased must give a reasonable service life as expected of such equipment, if it had just expired through its warranty then you are still covered by this act, I had a washing replaced for free 2 yrs after its warranty ran out, this is why you should never buy extended warranty as you are already protected.

 

[odawire]

Yes, good points on the consumer rights act, I am in the process of consumer dispute with Vodafone over this exact point, so I will look into it, would be helpful if I knew exactly what has failed, gonna email the calibration company for a more thorough explanation and write a letter, mean time I might give that Dialog a go.

 

[Sarmajor]

I had a meter mft1725 fail while working in Fiji. Managed to borrow another meter to get finished. Upon my return to NZ I contacted the NZ agents. Sent the unit to them and they looked at it. Ended up that they replaced the unit no charge to me at all.
We have a similar piece of consumer legislation here in NZ that makes warranties and extended warranties a waste of time. Basically if it is expensive then it had better last for a reasonable length of time repeated to other similar items.