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Could anyone recommend a sensibly priced test meter that will cover all of the safety checks required/recommended on Laundry equipment?
I currently (no pun intended) check insulation, earth continuity and Martindale the socket.
What is the most up to date advice on this as the threads I have been researching on this topic date back to about 2005.
Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
Hi Neil,
It looks like you are doing a good job already with earth loop impedance, earth bond and insulation tests.Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
Not actually doing earth loop impedance test at the moment 😳
I have been reading the threads here on the importance of doing so.
I remember DASA making a big noise about it years ago, I think they were trying to get it made compulsory.Is anyone using a single piece of kit that covers all the tests?
Continuity, Insulation, Earth LoopMy usual Safety checks include:
1. Ask customer if they have Circuit Breakers (if they don’t know ask them to show me fuse box)
2. Ask if they have tripped recently, ( the rccb, not the customer) if so was the fault diagnosed?
3. Martindale socket. Simple test for obvious earth fault or polarity.
4. Earth continuity from socket screws or nearby pipework back to appliance)
5. If appliance is near sink check water supply pipes and sinktop are earth bonded. If not make customer aware of danger.
6. Make sure appliance plug is wired to perfection.
7. Check and record appliance Insulation. I have been using 2M ohms as my safety cut off point.Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
neilsukwg wrote:I currently (no pun intended) check insulation, earth continuity and Martindale the socket.
Those checks are all one would be expected to do whilst repairing any individual appliance in a customers premises. Whilst earth bonding, consumer unit inspection and earth loop impedence testing are only necessary checks for appliances that are ‘hard wired’ (i.e Ovens, hobs and many built-in appliances). The latter tests requiring full access to consumer units prior to testing.
Therefore a 500 volt Insulation Test Meter, Digital Multi-meter, Earth Loop Impedence Meter and of course the very handy Martingdale are a must for all of us to have with us and use daily*. 😉
HTH?
* My guess is that few of us ‘in the trade’ barely possess a multimeter let alone a Megger? As for Loop Impedence Meter, most wouldn’t have ever seen one let alone know how to use one or why? :rolls:
Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
I use one from this range, they are cheap, small enough for the tool bag and also negate the need for a socket tester too.
http://www.socketandsee.co.uk/iqs/sid.0 … p_rcd.htmlRe: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
My guess is that few of us ‘in the trade’ barely possess a multimeter let alone a Megger? As for Loop Impedence Meter, most wouldn’t have ever seen one let alone know how to use one or why.
An Intresting prospect is it not Matrin?
I come into regular contact with Service Engineers who have been in the trade for many years, and a fair few of them when asked about such tests just don’t bother. In fact one engineer I was speaking to recently replied as follows to this question. Do you have a Megger ? Na I’ve never had the need for one !
It never ceases to amaze me how or why they have come to this particular mindset. Pressed further, What about socket testing and Earthing, the reply comes, what about it ? if the punters got trouble with that then thats down to them !
Mm can you imagine the fun a barrister would have in court if the unthinkable happened ? in this blame and claim world we operate in to not perform safety checks is just leaving you wide open to a serious claim that could cost you your house, business and shirt and what of the implications of public liabilty insurance engaging experts to test any such litigation ? Insurance companies are always looking for a way to adjust or deny the claim and to have it proven that you were incompetent could bring about PLI being withdrawn ?
I have always used both a mulimeter, Megohmeter, Martindale, Clampmeter, Voltstick ( for my safety ) ever since I served my apprenticship in this trade, it was the way we were trained and by using such tools you insure your own safety, the safety of the consumers, and a lot of the time these tools give you a head start in the diagnostic process that our job entails.
As for Earth Loop Impeadance testing I think that I am correct in saying that the all manufacturers technicians are supplied with and versed in the use of such equipment. Personally I am not as yet knowledgable in this respect but I plan to find out more about this aspect.
Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
i work for British Gas and we have to carry out all tests (eli inc)
we are all issued with an Alphatek Instaltest 61557 14-in-1 Installation Tester which will do all the tests u will need and more
Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
Squadman
An Intresting prospect is it not Matrin?
You been watching to many carry on films? “Oooh Matrin” 😀
Alphatek Instaltest 61557 14-in-1
£449 from herehttp://www.test4less.co.uk/details.asp?menuselect=e&ProductID=123
Looks like a beast of a device. Customers would be expecting the worst when it comes to price when you start flashing that bit of kit..very impressive. That should justify at least another tenner per job!Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
shonight wrote:we are all issued with an Alphatek Instaltest 61557 14-in-1 Installation Tester which will do all the tests u will need and more
My God! That’s the mother of all testing devices I know? WoW! And BG are surely splashing it about issuing those things to everyone, but then I suppose they aren’t strapped for cash either? :rolls:
Tell me shonight, how often do you have to hand it in to get it recalibrated I wonder?
Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
It gets recallibrated every 12 months along with all our other test equipment. tbh its a very good bit of kit but is probably over the top yuo will be amazed how many appliances that aernt earthed out there and if you are the last person to work on the appliance you would be liable if if you dont point out the dangers to the customer
Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
You got a bargain there Neil. I’ve just paid £650 for a Fluke multifunction tester. All Meters, Earth loop Impedance,Insulation resistance, and Rcd testers should be calibrated every 12 months. Just had my 3 Robin Meters calibrated. £85.
AshbyRe: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
Careful Squadman, Matrin will crush you in her ample bosom!
Back to Earth Loops etc.
Had a case in point today
Changed a set of lams on a Hpt wm52.
Checked the extension that the machine was plugged into with my simple £10 plug in socket tester, came up with No Earth! The extension was plugged into a single socket dangling on about a foot of Twin & Earth which was a spur from the socket above the worktop.
Checked the spur, still no earth. Checked the socket above the worktop feeding the spur, Earth OK.Machine is now plugged into socket above worktop until electrician calls.
This guy has just paid in the last month for a new rccb consumer unit and had the whole house checked because he was paranoid about his old fused system.
Electrician spent hours in the loft, removed storage heaters etc. doing a thorough job but did’nt pull the washing machine out and discover that dodgy socket below the worktop.
Total time spent locating a potentially lethal fault? About 30 seconds
Sorry to digress from the topic of earth loop impedance testing and test meters but I bet every engineer who does these tests routinely would have 100s of similair stories to tell which just goes to show how important the topic is.
Re: Supply Point Earth Loop Impedance Testing
shonight wrote:i work for British Gas and we have to carry out all tests (eli inc)
we are all issued with an Alphatek Instaltest 61557 14-in-1 Installation Tester which will do all the tests u will need and more
sorry ‘shonight’ this isnt quite correct, bg dont exactly fully test saftey of an appliance, a pat tester (+inc megger) would be more addequate for this test and includes a polarity check. Mainly I refer to 25A test current through appliance earth path.
imho an eli test would be done if you wanted to expand into offering another product like wiring houses, although advising customers that the earth path was out of required standard is good advice, this does in itself open another can of works for a self employed whitegoods engineer. unless the investment of peice of equipment was to provide return I cant honestly see the benefit in splashing out in an alphatec.
Wvm
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