Seaward Primetest 100 help with IT equipment.

[chrisgc]

Hi all

I have a Seaward Primetest 100 PAT tester and i am unsure what to select to test IT/Audio equipment, have sorted how to test Class 1 & Class 11 and IEC leads with no problem but for IT etc you have to test at a lower rating and unsure of this?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[stumas]

cant give the answer but know that their advice lines are very good and can give you the correct answer to this q as ive used them recently

 

[chrisgc]

cant give the answer but know that their advice lines are very good and can give you the correct answer to this q as ive used them recently

Just didint want to have to wait till Monday for an answer (being impatient).

It does say that it does do IT equipment but not chancing it without knowing for sure.

So if anyone knows would be very grateful.

 

[ringer]

According to Seaward literature, the 100 only does 500V IR, the 250V IR is only available on the 250 model. However, it does appear to have an alternative/substitute leakage test which 'should' test at mains voltage. It is also apparently able to do a 200mA Earth Bond test.

I am not an expert on Seaward kit, am just getting info from their downloadable blurb from their website. They do have a Technical Support section on their website with FAQs, Application Notes etc.

 

[wattsup]

I also just bought a seaward 100, according to sales lit. suitable for sensitive IT/electronic equipment, so i bought it expecting a setting for the said equipment. No setting available, so I emailed them asking is it safe to test IT stuff, so far no reply, that was 7-days ago...no seaward ever again for me, thats the crux, if after sales are poor thats the end. Back to fluke for me, more expensive but after sales and support are tons better

Test Class I and II equipment including IT and business equipment

http://www.seaward.co.uk/products/PrimeTest_100_PAT_Tester.asp

 

[ringer]

I have used both Fluke and Seaward technical support and have found them to be similar in terms of response times to emails i.e. not immediate response, but they do get back few days later. You may well find that phoning them up elicits a better response.

 

[wattsup]

Perhaps because I'm a long term fluke customer I get better response, but the issue is, seaward should try to tempt me to use their stuff, the worst thing any company can do is fail to respond, no second chance. (2 emails in 10 days) the last about 5 days ago. I'm not ringing, tried that on hold tooooooooo long

 

[chrisgc]

I am getting a little concerned that its not an appropriate PAT tester from the responses.

I bought it as have been given work (yet to start) from a lettings agency and of course hoping that as long as I do a good job they will ask me to PAT test their office IT equipment.

I have tested the unit at home but have yet to use it on site but obviously want it clarified that I can do IT equipment and mobile Disco equipment etc.

I am going to call them Monday after all I have paid top dollar for the kit 5 from test-meter.co.uk.

Was just hoping that someone here would have the Primetester 100 model and would be able to verify.

Anyone there????

 

[ringer]

with due respect mate, you have not paid top dollar. This PAT tester is at the lower end of the range of PAT testers, and £470 is not a lot of money for a PAT tester, especially with all the kit that comes with it. Looking again at the specs for this machine, it should be fine for IT equipment. As a hand held machine, it is probably incapable of zapping IT equipment to destruction - the earth bond test on this machine is only 200mA, and the equivalent (?) leakage test is 40V @ 50Hz.

Have you done the CG2377? If so you ought to have been taught safe operating parameters for IT equipment. But do check with Seaward on Monday for your own peace of mind.

 

[chrisgc]

with due respect mate, you have not paid top dollar. This PAT tester is at the lower end of the range of PAT testers, and £470 is not a lot of money for a PAT tester, especially with all the kit that comes with it. Looking again at the specs for this machine, it should be fine for IT equipment. As a hand held machine, it is probably incapable of zapping IT equipment to destruction - the earth bond test on this machine is only 200mA, and the equivalent (?) leakage test is 40V @ 50Hz.

Have you done the CG2377? If so you ought to have been taught safe operating parameters for IT equipment. But do check with Seaward on Monday for your own peace of mind.

Hey Ringer - as far as I am concerned £10 is top dollar lol.

I didnt mean top dollar in regards to other Pat Testers as I know some are extremelly expensive just meant I have paid a lot of money.

I have done the CG2377 but my original question was more model specific in the sense of I was thinking there might be some kind of setting/button on the Primetest 100 to indicate that a IT equipment test was selected.

But yeah woul love a all singing all dancing machine - just didnt want to be spendin load of money on something which I may not use enough.

Just really trying to get the IT test with the Seaward clarified from someone here before I attempted it on my own computer.

Anyone out there with a definitave answer??

 

[Michelle2909]

definitave answer for your tester
IT = earthscreen @200mA + alternative/substitute leakage test


Have you not got a copy of Code of Practice For In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment 3rd Edition

This is a link to Seawards guide to pat testing
http://www.seaward.co.uk/downloaditem.asp?id=89

Extract from Seawards Guide Ref IT Testing:

Insulation Resistance
Insulation resistance is measured by applying a test voltage of 500V DC and measuring the resistance. When testing a Class I appliance the voltage is applied between both live conductors (phase and neutral) and the protective conductor (earth). When testing a Class II appliance, the test voltage is applied between both live conductors (phase and neutral) and a test probe. The test probe should be applied to any exposed metal parts or any suspect parts of the enclosure where conductive material may have accumulated. Multiple tests may be required. Modern portable appliance testers produce a test voltage which is current limited. The voltage is not dangerous but could be uncomfortable. Appliances should not be touched during an insulation test.This test may not be suitable for certain types of appliance. In the case of equipment fitted with mains filters, voltage limiting devices or surge protection it may not be possible to obtain a satisfactory insulation resistance measurement with a 500V DC test voltage. IT equipment which does not comply with BS EN 60950 may be damaged by the 500V DC test voltage.

An alternative/substitute leakage, an insulation
resistance test at a reduced test voltage such
as 250V DC or a protective conductor/touch
current measurement, may be more
appropriate.

 

[rembrandt]

Chris

You may have already found the answer to this question elsewhere as you posted back in September, the short answer is yes you can safely test IT equipment with a Seaward 100, they do not do a "Flash test" and are therefore perfectly safe for testing CPU's and Monitors using the Class1 setting and likewise for audio eqpt "IF" it is Class1, a lot of new stereo systems are ClassII unless of course you are referring to DJ & band eqpt.

To qualify this, I have tested literally 100's of PC's with a Seaward 100 in the past.

 

[electric avenue]

hi rembrandt, sorry if im miss understanding but does a 500v insulation resistance test not damage IT equimpent? I have just got a seaward 100 tester and am unsure of how to use it to test IT equimpent. could you describe how you would test a PC. got a job next week and not wanting to blow up the office my first outing.

Many thanks