Test meter and the cold

[ed-ectrician]

Ignoring the security issue for a minute, do you reckon it would damage a test meter to leave it in your van overnight where it gets cold?

 

[RyanCheetham]

I dont know if it would but personally i wouldnt risk it. My van gets very cold in the back due to a roof vent fitted by the window fitters i bought the van from

 

[polo1]

I would strongly recommend that you do not keep equipment such as MFTs in the van overnight, especially in the winter months. There is a real possibility of condensation forming within the equipment, particularly when you take it straight out of the van into a warm atmosphere.

Regards

 

[Knobhead]

Do you take the vans dashboard in at night? Thats probably got as many gizmo’s in as you're meter.

 

[DPG]

Strictly speaking, if electronic equipment is taken from cold damp environments to warm dry environments , it should be allowed to aclimatise before use. Does the MFT manual say anything regarding this? Daz

 

[electric will]

My megger mft has stayed in my van for the last 3 winters with no problems, like tony says you should see all the electronics on a modern instrument cluster and they work fine-well most of them (cough cough ford)

 

[DPG]

I'm sure 99% of times you wouldn't have a problem, but I've definately seen it happen on multimeter LCD displays. Not worth the risk if you ask me - a little bit of moisture can do a lot of damage. Equipment in cars usually designed to cope with more extreme conditions. Daz

 

[ed-ectrician]

Fair enough but surely MFTs are also designed for cold if you are using them for (for e.g) IR tests after a first fix on a new block of flats with no windows yet! I wonder if megger etc account for this. Will prob take mine in from now on. Not worth the risk and security too! Thanks

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Megger MFT15xx series operating range -5 to 40°C, storage range -25 to 65°C
Megger MFT17xx series operating range -10 to 55°C, storage range -25 to 70°C[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
Fluke 165x series operating range -10 to 40°C, storage range -10 to 60°C (-40°C for 100hrs)

 

[rattlehead85]

I have had problems in the past with Robin Multi-testers not setting on IR scale after being left overnight in the cold. Have had to leave next to a warm radiator or in a warm room for around half an hour before performing any testing. Had this with more than one unit so tends to be a common issue.

 

[DPG]

Megger MFT15xx series operating range -5 to 40°C, storage range -25 to 65°C
Megger MFT17xx series operating range -10 to 55°C, storage range -25 to 70°C
Fluke 165x series operating range -10 to 40°C, storage range -10 to 60°C (-40°C for 100hrs)

It's not so much the temperature it's used at, but the change in temperature/humidity. Daz

 

[KevinS]

I'm more concerned about my insulating tape not coming off the roll.
my meter lives in my van and if any winter was going to be a problem, the last couple would have tested it.

i am certain there are people with MFTs in colder countries than us, who take them into nice warm houses.

worry about security more than temperature if I were you.

 

[Resu]

Ours only leaves the van when we are using it and has been fine the past few years. (Don't need to worry about security where we live!)

 

[KevinS]

Ours only leaves the van when we are using it and has been fine the past few years. (Don't need to worry about security where we live!)

Bit of a brave statement that. Just hope the inevitable doesn't happen.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

Ignoring the security issue for a minute, do you reckon it would damage a test meter to leave it in your van overnight where it gets cold?

yes....dont do it....