Earth leakage meter.. Do I really need one?

[LastManOnline]

While waiting for a reasonably priced earth leakage clamp meter that will do both AC and DC leakage, I find myself asking the question which is the title of this post.And so tonight (been prompted by "Listers" Post) I thought "why not ask the forum? I have to date never not solved any faults to which I have been called to attend. Could I not continue without the earth leakage meter?. Or do I need one to make life easier?. If so., under what circumstances?

 

[MJPD29]

No. My clamp meter has the capability to do it, never used it once.

 

[Mikegh]

I've always managed reasonably well with the IR tester and intuition for RCD trips

I'm looking at them but my gut feeling is you need to spend big to get a useful tester as you said fault current is ac and DC and then ithink there's higher frequencies on top of that, I'm not too well clued in ?

The other thing is with rcbos ,standing leakage becomes less of a problem and faults easier to find with an ir tester

 

[freddo]

I have one, but only use it for low current measuring. Never needed it to measure leakage, as above an IR tester is usually more useful.

 

[pc1966]

Getting one that does DC as well pushes the price up a lot, as it is not a simple current terraformer design. My own suspicion is that DC leakage would show easily on an IR test, though obviously not if it requires some appliance to be energised to cause it.

I think the main selling point comes from checking if the accumulated leakage is worryingly high for an RCD's trip point. Or if you want to measure the consumption of low power circuits but don't want the risk of putting a multimeter in-line (and possibly blowing its fuse form switch-on surges).

But I suspect the majority of "RCD started to trip" faults can be identified without out one as they are likely to show on IR testing, and you probably answered your own question by the fact you have managed fine until now.

If you are a tool-tart then the answer is always easier!

 

[LastManOnline]

Well folks. Comments appreciated and helpful. Will most likely hold off on making any purchase for now

 

[Mikegh]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://download.schneider-electric.com/files%3Fp_enDocType%3DWhite%2BPaper%26p_File_Name%3D998-20482406_GMA-US%2B_Why%2Bto%2Bchoose%2BB%2Btype%2Bprotection%2Bfor%2Bsafe%2Band%2Befficient%2Bpeople%2Bprotection.pdf%26p_Doc_Ref%3D998-20482406_GMA-US&ved=2ahUKEwi-08Cd1M_yAhV54zgGHXICAf0QFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2PT43upv9jWfY9aN1p1z95&cshid=1630015178872

 

[Mikegh]

Double post

Flicking through all that would put me off bothering testing leakage current

 

[cliffed]

I’ve always wanted one, the main reason where it’s not possible to do an IR test correctly, measure the leakage @ source then you have a M Ohm reading to put on Cert.

 

[LastManOnline]

Double post

Flicking through all that would put me off bothering testing leakage current

Good read all the same. One to file away