Multi function testers

[rikkitiki]

Right a quick small debate metrel or seaward?

Never worked with a seaward but it does look like a great piece of kit?

Is it time to change or just stick with the one you know?

 

[telectrix]

not a fan of the seaweed. had one, it died. repair not worth it.

 

[rikkitiki]

Will take that to heart, but some of the functionality looks great but again that is just on paper as never used one. Thanks

 

[telectrix]

so was the bluetooth for my megger 1553, but in less time than it takes to fathom it out, i've done the cert. 3 more test/inspections, 25 pints, and a roll with the missus.

 

[rikkitiki]

Yeah agreed but some new twists are very good the iCert app on apple for ipad and iPhone are very good and makes working in a city doing inspections very easy as you are able to use public transport and no tickets and traffic.

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Hi mate, I assume the Seaward Powerplus 1557 with it's form filling data capture system has caught your eye...

All the testers I’ve ever evaluated are like the “curate’s egg” good in parts, and the Seaward PowerPlus 1557 is no exception. It’s probably the smallest and lightest MFT currently on the market and that means some compromises have had to be made in the design, it’s nowhere near as rugged as a Megger, Fluke or even a Metrel MFT for example.

However it’s biggest deficiency is it’s reliance on a ‘high’ ELFI test method at a test current of only 3Apk, this 10 times smaller than the class leader and 8 times smaller than most MFTs currently on the market. Both the Hi and Lo ELFI tests are extremely fast taking a maximum of 5s to record four parameters EFLI, PEFC, LLI and PSSC. The trouble is this extreme speed coupled with the low test current make the measurement method very vulnerable to electrical noise errors, even more than seen on a Fluke 16xx series MFT.

The best feature is the in-built PowerPlus form filling system which is joy to use, you just navigate to the result box on the form, if it’s blank an icon flashes to warn that a test is required, the operator presses the green test button and the result is captured and entered on the form. When the form is complete it can be downloaded via Bluetooth to a PC running the Seaward PowerPlus Software, where it can be edited and stored. On the PC the original form data can be displayed on provided IET, NICEIC, NAPIT or ECA type form templates. Note:- currently ELECSA templates must be created manually.

So far so good, but the fun begins when you want to print out the created forms, with the Seaward and IET formats it’s just a case of printing to plain paper. The NICEIC, NAPIT and ECA template data can be printed on plain paper, but it’s just the results in their relative positions, the coloured form structure is locked and cannot be printed. This means the only way of getting the results printed with the appropriate form structure is to overprint on to the relevant schemes pro-forma test sheets, as you can imagine registration of the templates to the pro-forma sheets is fraught at best and frustratingly wasteful at times.

 

[telectrix]

markie, i'm still trawling through windows for dummies. you lost me half way through that post.

 

[rikkitiki]

Hi mate, I assume the Seaward Powerplus 1557 with it's form filling data capture system has caught your eye...

All the testers I’ve ever evaluated are like the “curate’s egg” good in parts, and the Seaward PowerPlus 1557 is no exception. It’s probably the smallest and lightest MFT currently on the market and that means some compromises have had to be made in the design, it’s nowhere near as rugged as a Megger, Fluke or even a Metrel MFT for example.

However it’s biggest deficiency is it’s reliance on a ‘high’ ELFI test method at a test current of only 3Apk, this 10 times smaller than the class leader and 8 times smaller than most MFTs currently on the market. Both the Hi and Lo ELFI tests are extremely fast taking a maximum of 5s to record four parameters EFLI, PEFC, LLI and PSSC. The trouble is this extreme speed coupled with the low test current make the measurement method very vulnerable to electrical noise errors, even more than seen on a Fluke 16xx series MFT.

The best feature is the in-built PowerPlus form filling system which is joy to use, you just navigate to the result box on the form, if it’s blank an icon flashes to warn that a test is required, the operator presses the green test button and the result is captured and entered on the form. When the form is complete it can be downloaded via Bluetooth to a PC running the Seaward PowerPlus Software, where it can be edited and stored. On the PC the original form data can be displayed on provided IET, NICEIC, NAPIT or ECA type form templates. Note:- currently ELECSA templates must be created manually.

So far so good, but the fun begins when you want to print out the created forms, with the Seaward and IET formats it’s just a case of printing to plain paper. The NICEIC, NAPIT and ECA template data can be printed on plain paper, but it’s just the results in their relative positions, the coloured form structure is locked and cannot be printed. This means the only way of getting the results printed with the appropriate form structure is to overprint on to the relevant schemes pro-forma test sheets, as you can imagine registration of the templates to the pro-forma sheets is fraught at best and frustratingly wasteful at times.

Great advice and thanks for the input. Looking at the price vs easy may not be the way as you have explained may just stick with my faithful metrel and use the iCert app which is great to work with.

 

[odawire]

megger megger megger

 

[Octopus]

Metrel with the Easi Switch option for doing FRC's