Recommendations for a Voltage Indicator and Proving Unit

[RDB85]

I’m looking to save for a Safe Isolation Kit, we done the Safe Isolation procedure in College using a Martindale Kit. But would anyone have any recommendations for a kit to buy? The Martindale was good but I’ve seen a few other manufacturers that seem to offer more features but are they worth it?

 

[Vortigern]

Fluke for my money, good solid kit. Bought a kewtech for a trainee and it seems to give erratic results, making beeps and going red when there is no voltage. Another trainee bought himself one and same thing. Anything else is downhill from there.

 

[JBW175]

Megger TPT320 is what I use, decent bit of kit, can pick them up online around £60 and a proving unit around £45.

 

[Vortigern]

I also use a drummond tester sometimes to test if there is an induced voltage on a cable as sometimes one will encounter that and it can eliminate confusion as to how something is live when it should not be.

 

[RDB85]

Megger TPT320 is what I use, decent bit of kit, can pick them up online around £60 and a proving unit around £45.

Megger looks to be a good piece of kit.
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Fluke for my money, good solid kit. Bought a kewtech for a trainee and it seems to give erratic results, making beeps and going red when there is no voltage. Another trainee bought himself one and same thing. Anything else is downhill from there.

Any particular model? I’ve also seen they do a Proving Unit, not sure on that either.
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I also use a drummond tester sometimes to test if there is an induced voltage on a cable as sometimes one will encounter that and it can eliminate confusion as to how something is live when it should not be.

Sounds good, similar to Martindale from the looks of the kits online, obviously better quality.

 

[StephenRowley]

Martidales are very expensive for what they are but what we are required to use at work, so might be worth checking if your employer has any requirements.

Sorry no the most helpful of posts

 

[RDB85]

Martidales are very expensive for what they are but what we are required to use at work, so might be worth checking if your employer has any requirements.

Sorry no the most helpful of posts

We don’t have a preference really. I know what you mean.

 

[pirate]

Fluke for me, and I use the Megger 690 proving unit which is a solid build with magnetic base. One of our sponsors sells them for about£80 inc. VAT. Buy once...
The same unit here in Spain from RS is listed at €160!

 

[telectrix]

i use the incomin terminals as a proving unit. this tester has phase sequence as well:

Weidmuller COMBI CHECK 1.3 Voltage Indicator Continuity Check USED ITEM F1 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Weidmuller COMBI CHECK 1.3 Voltage Indicator Continuity Check USED ITEM F1 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Vortigern]

As to what model fluke, buy the highest number you can afford.

 

[Julie.]

And what’s wrong with this then??

One of the first jobs when starting, make your own voltage tester, pyro shroud, neon and holder and wire!

Accurate voltage measurement -
dim - not 240v,
normal - 240v,
bright as f - oops 415v

Used for years...


For some reason, it's not the preferred voltage tester now!

Another vote for the megger tpt320
I use a socket and see sp200 proving unit.

Spend on the tester, but proving units are much of a muchness

 

[nicebutdim]

And what’s wrong with this then??
View attachment 61133

Looked at this several times and I'm convinced this is housed in a carrot and not a pyro shroud.

 

[Julie.]

Looked at this several times and I'm convinced this is housed in a carrot and not a pyro shroud.

Yeah it's a bit old and been sculling round the bottom of a toolbox for years!

If it was a carrot, it would be rotten by now.

I am not sure i want to test it though, how times have changed, it was the right thing to use in the 70's, now scared to use it.
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It does......

1977 - 2020 and still working, take that megger/fluke/martindale

 

[RDB85]

Thanks I’ve narrowed it down to four to look at:

• Megger TPT320 and MPU690
• Martindale VIPD138
• Fluke T5-150 PRV240
• Socket and See VIP Pro Kit

I was looking at getting them from https://www.test-meter.co.uk/voltage-tester-proving-unit-kits/

But they don’t sell the Fluke so may have to look elsewhere for that to see who has the better deals.

 

[PEG]

....It looks like something at the bottom of a clinical waste bin,in a prostate operating theatre...
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I have the TPT320 and the older TPT220...both very good bits of kit.

 

[ChipFanDave]

depends where you work and if you work for customers that have there own rules. For example we expect all our contractors to have proving units and voltage indicators that match up with each other and test up to 550v DC.

 

[R-fur]

I have always used Drummond testers, Especially like their new LED ones. Bombproof.
[automerge]1601546253[/automerge]

And what’s wrong with this then??

Years ago when I was an SAP with a DNO the old Clyde Valley Power Company substations had the original home made testers in them. A Plywood box with two 60W lamps in series inside, holes in the front so you could see the lamps, Substation name signwritten at the top and a special bracket on the wall to hang it on, next to the rack for spare fuses. Wish I had kept one.

 

[RDB85]

I have always used Drummond testers, Especially like their new LED ones. Bombproof.
[automerge]1601546253[/automerge]

Years ago when I was an SAP with a DNO the old Clyde Valley Power Company substations had the original home made testers in them. A Plywood box with two 60W lamps in series inside, holes in the front so you could see the lamps, Substation name signwritten at the top and a special bracket on the wall to hang it on, next to the rack for spare fuses. Wish I had kept one.

I’ve not seen the Drummond ones.

 

[R-fur]

Google 'Drummond MTL20B

 

[RDB85]

They look good the Drummond Kits:

Safe Isolation and Voltage detection kits from Master Lock and Martindale

Safely isolate electrical circuits with our safe isolation and voltage detector kits from Master Lock and Martindale. Be safe, use our safe isolation kits and voltage detector kit to lock off the RCD and MCB.

www.test-meter.co.uk

 

[DPG]

Yeah it's a bit old and been sculling round the bottom of a toolbox for years!

If it was a carrot, it would be rotten by now.

I am not sure i want to test it though, how times have changed, it was the right thing to use in the 70's, now scared to use it.
[automerge]1601542322[/automerge]
It does......
View attachment 61136

1977 - 2020 and still working, take that megger/fluke/martindale

Get it on ebay and use the words 'vintage', 'barn find' and 'industrial '

 

[telectrix]

i bought this on ebay to replace one i lost. cheap as chips. phase sequence. does the job.
UNI-T Waterproof Type Digital 2 Pole Voltage Tester

 

[pc1966]

The tester I have also bleeps on continuity - I hate that as I'm usually checking for safety and periodically jump then realise it a different f'ing bleep for N-E continuity and not L-N reversal and still energised!

So I would go for one that does one job only - to check for volts. If buying another I would probably go for the Drummond, or something cheap like the "Kewtech Kewvolt 2" or "Socket & See VIP150" that also needs no battery. To be fair my one still warns if volts and no battery but i think the voltage-range LEDs don't light, so would go for one that does one simple job.

However, some folk like a simple continuity probe bleeper feature for other testing, and I know some folk who like the non-contact sort for seeing if something is live, but never use them to prove dead!

 

[Julie.]

The tester I have also bleeps on continuity - I hate that as I'm usually checking for safety and periodically jump then realise it a different f'ing bleep for N-E continuity and not L-N reversal and still energised!

So I would go for one that does one job only - to check for volts. If buying another I would probably go for the Drummond, or something cheap like the "Kewtech Kewvolt 2" or "Socket & See VIP150" that also needs no battery. To be fair my one still warns if volts and no battery but i think the voltage-range LEDs don't light, so would go for one that does one simple job.

However, some folk like a simple continuity probe bleeper feature for other testing, and I know some folk who like the non-contact sort for seeing if something is live, but never use them to prove dead!

Yeah, that's one thing about the megger tpt320, it's a useful function, but inevitably take me by surprise every time!

That's just familiarity though, whatever you learn with eventually feels like the only right way.

To this day, whenever I see a black wire, my mind thinks neutral, takes me a moment to check myself!

 

[nicebutdim]

The tester I have also bleeps on continuity - I hate that as I'm usually checking for safety and periodically jump then realise it a different f'ing bleep for N-E continuity and not L-N reversal and still energised!

The previously resommended Fluke 2 pole testers allow their buzzer to be silenced.

Think I remember reading specs of a tester from some manufacturer (although I could be wrong about this) that also vibrated for use in noisey environments - that would take some getting used to!

 

[RDB85]

The tester I have also bleeps on continuity - I hate that as I'm usually checking for safety and periodically jump then realise it a different f'ing bleep for N-E continuity and not L-N reversal and still energised!

So I would go for one that does one job only - to check for volts. If buying another I would probably go for the Drummond, or something cheap like the "Kewtech Kewvolt 2" or "Socket & See VIP150" that also needs no battery. To be fair my one still warns if volts and no battery but i think the voltage-range LEDs don't light, so would go for one that does one simple job.

However, some folk like a simple continuity probe bleeper feature for other testing, and I know some folk who like the non-contact sort for seeing if something is live, but never use them to prove dead!

Thanks I like the Drummond, but they are quite expensive. I’m leaning towards one that doesn’t need batteries. The Socket and See looks similar to Martindale and the Proving Unit like the Megger.