2 Pole Voltage / Continuity testers.

Re: 2 Pole Voltage / Continuity testers.

Pictures would be nice so I can identify it. I have different names for all the testing equipments.

I have the “Yellow” box which is an insulation tester, the “black” pouch is the multimeter and “net” pouch which is the analogue multimeter. Then there’s the red stick is voltage pen and black cylinder with yellow band is the torch.

Re: 2 Pole Voltage / Continuity testers.

Had a look at the two pole tester, I do not think it would add anything to my life as I would not know how to use it correctly which could be very dangerous. As you are already a qualified sparky, you are well placed to use this equipment.

I rarely do “live” testing but having said that, you need to be conscious of what you are doing especially with live wire. I think there may have been one or two occasions that I could use this equipment but like you said you found it quicker, I did it the slow way with different equipments and still fix the appliance. So this was why I doubt it would improve my life.

There’s one thing I know that will improve my life, clamp meter which I have not got yet. It is on my list of things to buy.

Re: 2 Pole Voltage / Continuity testers.

I ordered the Clamp meter as you recommended. It’s not what I had in mind as it appears to only work for one conductive lead, which means it is no good to clamp it around the mains lead of a washing machine or dishwasher because there are two conductive leads excluding earth. The manual says it is impossible to make measurements when two or three conductors are clamped at the same time.

The one I saw at the trade show in Coventry, the guy demonstrated the clamp meter over a extension lead which the computers were plugged in and powered up. The clamp meter showed the flow of current in terms of wattage and voltage. That’s the one I wanted as it will help me to determine that the washing machine/dishwasher heater is working by monitoring the flow of the current in terms of wattage.

The one I had does not do that, bit disappointed to be honest as I have wasted £10. 🙁 Are you able to recommend another type of clamp meter?

Re: 2 Pole Voltage / Continuity testers.

Specialist01269 wrote:Hi mate: You have’nt wasted £10.00, all you need to do is make up a short extension lead. Cut a slit in the outer sheath of the flex about 50-75mm long & pull just the live core through the slit, put a cable tie either end of the slit to stop it opening up any more & job done. When you want to check current draw on an appliance just plug it into the lead & put your clamp around the exposed Live conductor.
Think that’s what most of us do & you don’t need an expensive clamp, I’ve been doing it this way for years and never had a problem. Why do you need to know wattage rather than current draw ?

Cheers, will give it a go. Looks a bit of a faff but if that’s the only way to do it on the cheap then I will give it a go. I think we are talking the same thing as wattage and current draw – a case of watching the numbers going up when the current draws, wash motor low current then heater comes on high currents meaning higher numbers.

I think I have a spare lead somewhere, oh yeah that old mains lead from a Bosch washer in the van, will cut it off and put a socket on the end of it.

As for pulling the live wire out, I presume you mean the brown one? The slit – near the plug or socket or in the middle? Do you strengthen it by insulating tape to make it hard wearing? How long the flex from the plug to the socket?

Re: 2 Pole Voltage / Continuity testers.

I know its a lot more money but I use a Megger MMC850 Multi Core – Single Core Clamp meter. It is so convenient being able to clamp around the whole flex especially where sockets are either not accessible or may be hard wired in. Great for indicating when the heater powers up on machines.

Re: 2 Pole Voltage / Continuity testers.

Martin114 wrote:I know its a lot more money but I use a Megger MMC850 Multi Core – Single Core Clamp meter. It is so convenient being able to clamp around the whole flex especially where sockets are either not accessible or may be hard wired in. Great for indicating when the heater powers up on machines.

I agree with you there and it what I was looking for but like you said a lot more money. I will have to do plenty of repairs to do justify high costs of equipment. I admit that it is a bit of a luxury. As for working out dishwasher heater, I use the infra red temperature (£5 from Maplins) because you can open the door to interrupt the cycle. The washing machine is a different matter as it’s hard to tell due to low water consumption and the time it takes to heat it up so that’s where the clamp meter comes into it. I will try out the cheaper version and see how I got on.

Re: 2 Pole Voltage / Continuity testers.

one of these is good
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electro … 641921&kw={keyword}