Wandering lead for domestic testing

[ringer]

Would you recommend buying a ready-made reel such as the ETL30 or should I get some green-sleeved single? If so, what csa should it be, can you buy a 30m reel of single, or is 50m a better length? And would the single come on a suitable/usable reel?

 

[rocker]

Just get a reel of single. It doesn't matter what CSA it is as it should not be carrying any amperage, so you may as well just go for 1mm.

If you want a 'proper' reel you can gut a cheapo extension lead and put your single in there.

 

[UNG]

Always found Tri Rated singles best for making up wander leads

 

[topquark]

Yep, a couple of fixed lengths of singles and measure the resistance of them and note it on the cable, job done!

 

[Sparky Ninja]

I had a reel. Loved it. My best tool.

Then my dad nicked it and i refuse to buy another. So now i have a use for all the drums of singles in my garage.


As long as you zero it, it's the same thing.

 

[UNG]

Yep, a couple of fixed lengths of singles and measure the resistance of them and note it on the cable, job done!

Why not null / zero the meter with the wander lead connected saves time subtracting figures as the reading on the meter will be the one to go on the cert

 

[topquark]

Why not null / zero the meter with the wander lead connected saves time subtracting figures as the reading on the meter will be the one to go on the cert

I've had trouble with kewtech and fluke meters where the auto null option doesn't work reliably (have to admit my megger seems fine though). So just down to personal choice

 

[cegsdj]

why bother with a wander lead as on the test sheets you can put the r1 +r2 results also alot quicker !!

 

[abbi normal]

got mine from a boot sale ...perfect condition ..... asked the woman selling it ... "what is that thing " ... dunno she said ... found it in her husbands van .... how much asks I .... dunno .... hows a fiver sound ... bit steep says I..... we setteld on £3


bet the old man was pleased )

 

[Sparky Ninja]

why bother with a wander lead as on the test sheets you can put the r1 +r2 results also alot quicker !!

What method do you use to verify continuity of bonding conductors?

 

[Johnny-G]

One of these and an extension reel R2 WANDER LEAD / WANDERING LEAD ADAPTER SOCKET on eBay (end time 23-Jul-10 20:31:12 BST)

 

[ringer]

How about this 1.5mm single? Could I use the left overs for supplementary bonding, or is it a bit on the small side for use as bonding?

 

[rodney12]

I've had trouble with kewtech and fluke meters where the auto null option doesn't work reliably (have to admit my megger seems fine though). So just down to personal choice

i know on my fluke mft it stops auto nulling when the battery voltage gets down to a certain level

 

[cbw]

Roll of 4mm earth used for sup bonding

 

[Smugley]

I have to voice up here. I bought one of the proper Kewtech 50m wander leads and I'm very happy I did - I use it regularly for fault finding, identifying conductors and earth continuity checks. Personally I think it was money well spent as 50m of good fine-strand flexible cable is not cheap anyway and I could not imagine using single core. It would get tangled, tripped over, and be a right pain to use. This one rolls in and out like a salamander's tongue.