robin kts 1625

[Chris_Harvey]

Hello all,

I have stumbled on this forum alot lately whist looking for reviews so i thought it was time to register and just come here first for answers so, here goes.......

I picked up some info on these today has anyone got any reviews on these at all i know they are fairly new? I am in the market for a new tester and was really looking hard at the fluke 1652, i have used the 1653 before and liked it but, have no need for the memory function. Obviously everyone has their preferences which i have read on other threads.

The reason i ask is that i can't find any reviews on it and they are selling at a good price compared to other Multifunctions. I have used Robin before and have never had problems or do i stick with what i know and like but at a more costly price??

Thanks in advance
Chris

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Hi Chris, I was sent a Robin KTS1625 from Fluke's Amprobe range to revue for a well known monthly electrical periodical. For contractual reasons I can't send you a copy of the article or reveal the publication as much as I would like to. So a synopsis follows, if you want to know more a Google search should reveal all.
As you probably know the new KTS1625 is based on the old Robin KTS1620, a plus point in my opinion. When Fluke acquired Robin, the existing range was continued for about a year before Fluke dropped it, many sparks including myself, mourned the demise of the ultra reliable Robin range of instruments. Over the intervening years, members on this forum in particular, have championed Robin test gear as a sound second hand buy and often lamented it's demise, whilst also criticizing Fluke for it's handling of the take-over and the phasing out of a favourite choice.
Well the good news is Fluke have worked their magic on a respected MFT and have changed the No-trip EFLI test from the old DC blocking method (D lock) to the fractional cycle (semi-cycle) method so it works on modern RCDs and RCBOs, plus they have added a RCD ramp test and S type mode. The bad news is, well there is little, the MFT boasts fast loop testing and indeed it is. However, it suffers from the typical Fluke reliance on the single pulse test method that is often inhibited by line noise requiring a retest which is a crying shame, but at this price point not surprising. From this we have to conclude that Megger have the noise tolerant, multi-pulse method tightly patented *.
My current opinion is, at the sub £450 + VAT price point this MFT is probably the best on the market, certainly better than the Kewtech KT61 or 62 their versions of the old Robin KTS1620.
*Note: Kewtech have released the KT63, which may be a match for the current sub £500 Ex VAT benchmark MFT, the Robin KTS1625, time will tell.
The Kewtech KT63 claims to have a New Anti Trip Technology loop test - for full no trip Loop testing on RCDs of all types. Low susceptibility of RCD uplift and noise interference.
Also Kyoritsu the parent company and manufacturers of the Kewtech brand in the UK have announced in the trade press that they have developed a noise tolerant, No-trip test method, which does not infringe the existing multi-pulse method (Megger) patent.
I have sample to test and will post my results in due course, however, it will be a long term test because of my on-going concerns over Kewtech's apparent inability to solve their associated multifunction range selection switch problems on the KT64 and 65 models, despite many alleged 'hardware repairs' and firmware updates as I have highlighted ad nuseum.

 

[Chris_Harvey]

The reason behind my asking was that i am currently in the process of setting up on my own for various reasons i will not divulge here and have a budget upon which to get started, as with anything i will always buy the best i can afford and hope to get something i can 'grow' into rather than something that is cheaper but is not as easy to use or will become unreliable.
I suppose you do always get what you pay for. Sounds like it fits a criteria that was missing in the robin range and obviously fluke are probably not willing to encroach on the sales of their branded products. I do like a robust and reliable tester and i know everyone has their own preferences. The verdicts out still for me and i suppose i'm the only one who can make the choice.

chris