TEST LEADS FOR RCBO TESTING

[NICKYNUNN]

Hi, what do you guys use to test rcbo trip times at the rcbo in DB? My Fluke test lead can not reach far enough for contact, I can't see any long reach probes for the Fluke 1662.
Any advice greatly appreciated

 

[James]

Some probes , you can pull the covers off the tips

 

[NICKYNUNN]

Some probes , you can pull the covers off the tip

Thanks,you can on mine but they are still not long enough :/

 

[R-fur]

Make up some short (100mm) leads with a 4mm socket at one end and a bootlace ferrule at the other.
Put the bootlace end under the pinching screws and plug your test set into the other end. I always carry a couple of these leads and find them useful in many locations.

 

[NICKYNUNN]

Make up some short (100mm) leads with a 4mm socket at one end and a bootlace ferrule at the other.
Put the bootlace end under the pinching screws and plug your test set into the other end. I always carry a couple of these leads and find them useful in many locations.

Thanks,sounds like a good work around. You'd think there would be long reach leads for this, looks like there is a gap in the market

 

[timhoward]

I was going to suggest exactly the same; when test lead plugs split I keep them and use the plug other end to make up this sort of thing.

The other last resort solution, based on what I secretly used to do when I had a separate RCD tester that was only intended for socket circuits and had a moulded 3 pin plug on it and needed to test other circuits...

Stick an unswitched double socket in a surface pattress. Plug in the 3 pin plug lead for the fluke.
In the other half of the socket use a Megger/Kewtech etc 3-pin plug to 4mm lead, and any 4mm probes of your choosing. Rather a horrible clunky hack but works.

 

[NICKYNUNN]

I was going to suggest exactly the same; when test lead plugs split I keep them and use the plug other end to make up this sort of thing.

The other last resort solution, based on what I secretly used to do when I had a separate RCD tester that was only intended for socket circuits and had a moulded 3 pin plug on it and needed to test other circuits...

Stick an unswitched double socket in a surface pattress. Plug in the 3 pin plug lead for the fluke.
In the other half of the socket use a Megger/Kewtech etc 3-pin plug to 4mm lead, and any 4mm probes of your choosing. Rather a horrible clunky hack but works.

Thanks, I might get myself on dragons den with some long probes, see if any of them wanna back it

 

[R-fur]

Long reach probes are a bad idea for sparks as you might be tempted to use them in inappropriate locations. Tim's idea works and is safe but as he says a bit clunky. The little 4mm to bootlace leads are easy to stick in a corner of your tool bag so they are always handy.

 

[NICKYNUNN]

Long reach probes are a bad idea for sparks as you might be tempted to use them in inappropriate locations. Tim's idea works and is safe but as he says a bit clunky. The little 4mm to bootlace leads are easy to stick in a corner of your tool bag so they are always handy.

thanks for your help

 

[Cagethethird]

Fluke make long reach/narrow probe tips

Fluke 8845A 8846A Tip Adapter Set | ISSWWW.co.uk

Fluke 8845A 8846A Tip Adapter Set - Extended Fine Point Tip Adapter for the Fluke 884X Series Digital Bench Meters

isswww.co.uk

Is this the sort of thing you are after?

 

[Dartlec]

Fluke Twistguards are probably what you want. Got some for my Megger and they have come in so handy I couldn't go back to any other type now.

ebay link

 

[NICKYNUNN]

Fluke make long reach/narrow probe tips

Fluke 8845A 8846A Tip Adapter Set | ISSWWW.co.uk

Fluke 8845A 8846A Tip Adapter Set - Extended Fine Point Tip Adapter for the Fluke 884X Series Digital Bench Meters

isswww.co.uk

Is this the sort of thing you are after?

Thanks, Yes possibly , if they are meant for the multimeters and not just the hand held voltage meters.I'll have to ring them up

 

[pc1966]

Make up some short (100mm) leads with a 4mm socket at one end and a bootlace ferrule at the other.

Don't forget to use safety 4mm plugs!

For example:

RS PRO Red Male Banana Plug, 4 mm Connector, Solder Termination, 10A, 1000V, Tin Plating | RS

uk.rs-online.com

 

[NICKYNUNN]

Fluke Twistguards are probably what you want. Got some for my Megger and they have come in so handy I couldn't go back to any other type now.

ebay link

nice one, i'll check and see how long they are

 

[pc1966]

The issue stems from the likes of GS38 safety requirements for not touching the probe tip while working and having less chance of accidentally shorting (and potential for a serious arc-flash incident if on the tails, etc).

The Fluke Twistguards look interesting, must try and get some for myself!

Edited to add link to GS38:

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/gs38.pdf

 

[NICKYNUNN]

Don't forget to use safety 4mm plugs!

For example:

RS PRO Red Male Banana Plug, 4 mm Connector, Solder Termination, 10A, 1000V, Tin Plating | RS

uk.rs-online.com

thanks!!

 

[Mike Johnson]

I don't know much about the 1662, but does it not come with the mains lead to plug into a socket on the circuit to be tested?

 

[Dartlec]

nice one, i'll check and see how long they are

They go from 4mm to 19mm according to Fluke - Not sure what the depth of the RCBOs involved are but that should be enough I would have thought.

They don't actually advertise them as GS38 Compliant, perhaps because they aren't spring loaded so wouldn't comply when retracted. However, that's no different to the older Megger ones with removeable covers. These are far more convenient because you don't immediately lose the covers...

It's surprising how often my old GS38 tips were defeated by a recessed choc block terminal..

They do them as whole test leads too, but I prefer to have the leads separate for a break out box.

 

[westward10]

I'm old fashioned I just shove a 3.5mm accessory hole down the recess, no I'm not joking.

 

[Mike Johnson]

Extract from the manual:

RCD Tripping Time Measurements In this test, a calibrated fault current is induced into the circuit to cause the RCD to trip. The meter measures and shows the time required for the RCD to trip. You can do this test with test leads or the mains cord. The test is done with a live circuit.