Anti Trip or Not

[bredwin]

Hello all,

I've been an electrician for 13 years but recently moved to a new company and I am required to carry out all the inspection and testing, whereas on my old company I only had to do the 'dead tests'. I've bought myself a book from the NIC and it all seems straight forward and I should have no problems.

I've decided that I will get myself an MFT, the thing is I can save a lot of money by getting one without anti-trip, as I've done no loop testing before I don't know how much of a nuisance it will be having one without, especially as the majority of the work is domestic and with 17th Edition everything is on an RCD. Would it cause problems when testing for Ze, as this is tested at the main switch, and Zs can be calculated from this.

Also what testers would people reccomend?

Thanks. :D

[Ohmslaw]

Hi there.

Personally I would always go for the D-Lok tester, just so much easier as you will inevitably have to carry out Zs readings.

When measuring Ze at the origin, D-Lok wouldn't be needed as the only device upstream would be the suppliers fuse.

The Megger 1552 can be got quite reasonably nowadays or if not the Kewtech range are basic but solid.

[bredwin]

Thanks for the advice, so anti trip is essential these days really, with 17th edition.

I've got a Kewtech catalogue in front of me, I'm really tempted to be a cheapskate and go for the KT61, which is very basic just does the Loop, Continuity, Insulation and RCD tests, no anti trip and more annoyingly no auto RCD test or auto null, but it can be got for around £250. I always used to like the old yellow box Robin's, had one of their insulation resistance testers for years before it died a couple of years ago, which is why i've been looking at the Kewtechs, although I did have a go on my mates Megger and was pretty impressed.

[cj-sharpy]

Its not absloutely essential that you get a D-Lok but I would go for one. They make life so much easier.
The other way I look at it, as with everything I do, is that if you end up in court one day and are asked to prove your work was okay I would rather defend a tested result than a calculated one. Zs doesn't always equal Ze + (R1+R2). So better to get it right.

[Greg]

Its not absloutely essential that you get a D-Lok but I would go for one. They make life so much easier.
The other way I look at it, as with everything I do, is that if you end up in court one day and are asked to prove your work was okay I would rather defend a tested result than a calculated one. Zs doesn't always equal Ze + (R1+R2). So better to get it right.

Yes pretty much agree there like Ohmslaw said D-Lock isnt needed on a Ze test but is on a Zs I have a Megger 1552 and its fantastic, its very easy to use. Durable too, my apprentice once tried to megger an engerized circuit :(



http://isswww.co.uk/17th-Edition-Testers/Megger/Megger-MFT1552-Multifunction-Tester-with-3-year-warranty/