Multifunctional Testers - Which one have you got and how long has it lasted?

[electric al]

I have a 3 piece Robin set , had it over 15 years now

Yeah me too dusty . Does the job just as well as my fluke 1642 and no probs with calibration

 

[telectrix]

... Respected for its worth - and probably never dropped 2m onto a painted concrete floor ...
Life expectancy must depend on part if it treated kindly , or slung in back of van jostling with reels of T&E.

mine is kept in a padded camera case. for fault finding i use a IR/cont. Megger BM summat, cost a tenner faulty. all it was was a broken connection on the inside of the lead socket. passed calibration and if i drop it it's only 4 pints lost.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Megger 1741, 1735, 1731 and a Metrel 3155 eurotest

Do you still have them all Richy?
Don't worry I'm not looking for a freebie like last time, just interested ?
I have a 1731 which I love. The metrel mi3000 lasted quite a few years though and was adequate, it's now kept as a spare.

 

[rlsecurity]

HI
Just looking at buying a metrel ML3155 XD
would anyone happen to know what the difference between the standard kit and the euro kit is. for the £400 difference

thanks

 

[PEG]

I have an embarrassingly large collection of devices,some for work,some for fun,but in the latter MFT club,i have a 1720,with the latest version download,which has been very good.

I took the time to learn it's every option,and would keep it,even on a future upgrade,which will probably arrive out of giddyness,more than need

I would always stress the need to know whatever device,100%,rather than chase any dazzling,newer versions.

In the last month,i have used a DC current meter,and an inclined manometer,both of which,are older than me mum

 

[richy3333]

@happyhippydad Morning. Happy new year. Yes we still have all those test instruments. The Megger is the daily go to and to date the Metrel has been used mainly on EV testing with additional extra bits; but I am going to take it on as my main tester sometime soon.

We have a lot of Megger test equipment (clamps, earth leakage, AVO, iClamps, PAT testers etc) but these last couple of years have felt the MFT's are not made as well as they used to be.

The last 1700 series we ordered arrived with the top and bottom detached! It was all sorted out OK but knocks your confidence in the equipment somewhat.
[automerge]1577962855[/automerge]

HI
Just looking at buying a metrel ML3155 XD
would anyone happen to know what the difference between the standard kit and the euro kit is. for the £400 difference

thanks

@rlsecurity if you look on the meter UK website there is a chart showing what is and isn't included. Scroll down to the bottom of this page:

MI 3155 EurotestXD

MI 3155 EurotestXD is the newest flagship of Metrel’s most advanced line of multi-functional measuring instruments and is designed specifically for testing in industry. What differentiates this instrument from the rest is its ergonomic design and an intuitive user interface, encompassing a...

www.metrel.co.uk

 

[Marti]

Kewtech KT65 for last 3 years. It’s been reliable and we understand each other. I do have Megger envy building, but the KT just won’t die .

That KT65 was one of the few I considered before pitching for a lightly used Megger 1730. Looks nice and fool-proof compared to the Mettrel and Fluke Had a Fluke on loan recently. Can't say much about the accuracy, which should the the most important consideration, but find the 1730's "child's toy" controls far easier to set correctly.

Does anyone else test their MFT against a Cal-Card and a known RCD? Mine gets a run through and spreadsheet log roughly every month. Give me a heads up as to potential issues.

 

[Midwest]

Does anyone else test their MFT against a Cal-Card and a known RCD? Mine gets a run through and spreadsheet log roughly every month. Give me a heads up as to potential issues.

That’s what I did when registered with a Scheme. Then every third year, I’d have it calibrated. I replaced the Calcard then, but then someone pointed out the card is just a set of known resistances, which can’t alter.
As did a Zs test as well as RCD test on the same socket. If was doing it now, I would install a dedicated socket on its own RCBO, to save messing around isolating devices.

 

[Marti]

That’s what I did when registered with a Scheme. Then every third year, I’d have it calibrated..

THAT'S INTERESTING! I hadn't realised that if you monitor the readings and they remain the same it isn't necessary to fork out anything between £50 - £125 every year for a calibration test. Thanks Midwest.

 

[Midwest]

If you are with a Scheme, just clarify what they require. I was with Elecsa, and purchased my CalCard from them.

 

[Risteard]

Personally I advocate annual calibration in addition to ongoing accuracy checks. These are nowhere near as thorough or controlled as the calibration process.

It's all academic for me anyway as RECI require annual calibration without exception.

 

[stevethesparks]

On my last three NICEIC visits they have changed their minds each time
Was every 3 years
Then endless if I had my own proving unit,
now back to every year.

 

[plugsandsparks]

KT65, selector switch went in warranty, that was just dirt , it does get used in some nasty industrial locations, since then its now over 9 years old still going strong, have another KT65 as back up but never been out of the house.
Only other thing is one of the leads broke

 

[BruceBanner]

Matrel 61557, does all & more, passes calibration every year.

 

[Andy78]

Matrel 61557, does all & more, passes calibration every year.

Good solid tester, although it only does type AC RCD testing which my mate found a limitation recently to his otherwise comprehensive tester.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

The new kewtech kt63 + I think it is looks pretty damn good... Has built in dc testing for rcds which is good as we are moving towards type a etc.... Most can't test them... Only the ac side... Its nearly £1k though

 

[Buzz Nad]

Megger 1731 not failed me yet.... Absolutely fantastic bit of kit....

 

[Snailspark]

I have a Megger MFT 1741-BS. Had a Megger MFT 1553 before that. (Still have it as a backup.) New one is much faster and also has rechargeable batteries. Great instrument, although some would still swear by the 1500 series over the 1700 series.

Speak to Megger and get it upgraded to the new 1741+ I think they will do it for a low price....

 

[Risteard]

Speak to Megger and get it upgraded to the new 1741+ I think they will do it for a low price....

Do they offer a deal on upgrading to the 1741+?

I'll be honest - I was fuming when I found out that it had been released as I've only had my 1741 just over a year and would have bought the 1741+ had it existed at the time. (I see there's a nice limited edition black version of it too...)

 

[Micktw68]

A couple of Megger 1553s one with Bluetooth feature that was used once.
interested to hear that Megger potentially do an subsidised upgrade to the 1700 series. Does anyone have any idea how to go about it.

 

[pc1966]

Recently got a DiLOG DL9118 MFT as it seemed to be a decent enough unit for the price, but don't have any experience to compare that with, say, the Megger MFTs.

However I still prefer my Megger MIT230 for general bond impedance testing (seems a little quicker / more responsive) but mostly because on insulation it goes up to 1G ohm which I have found useful (not domestic testing).

 

[Jurassic Sparks]

Megger 1553
kept clean and always wiped over with a cloth and put back in its box
the Calibration centre look after it for me

 

[pc1966]

Does anyone else test their MFT against a Cal-Card and a known RCD? Mine gets a run through and spreadsheet log roughly every month. Give me a heads up as to potential issues.

What a great idea!

I have never seen the CalCard before, but I have some other resistor calibration boxes that are not as convenient to carry/keep with the instrument/etc.

 

[Instantsafe]

Are we the only country to use MF testers ?

I have spoken to sparks from America , Canada , New Zealand , Australia , Greece and Spain non of which use a MF back home

Yes, they don't get used much here in Australia, most sparkys use a multimeter, and have an IR tester and an RCD tester.
I actually purchased a used Di-Log 9083P which is built in the same carcass as a Seaward PAT tester. But I had to purchase that in UK and have it transported to the colonies.
I quite enjoy using it, having so much to choose from on one unit.
We don't have the same procedures as you have in 17th, or I think it's the 18th now!

 

[pc1966]

That is interesting to hear. Certainly by time you have bought an insulation tester and a RCD tester you might as well buy a MFT!

However, most multimeters cover a wider range of measurements than the equivalent MFT capabilities, but generally not as capable at the very low (bonding) or very high (insulation testing) resistance ranges.

 

[telectrix]

bought my 1553 2nd hand in 2013 from MDJ.. it's now 12 years old and passed every calibration.

 

[Mr Three ø]

I have a Megger made in the 1960s. I have had use of it since 1993. I still use it when I don't need a calibrated result. It has a DC generator 500 & 1000VDC. The meter has a current winding and a voltage winding. The result of the two magnetic fields moves the meter hand; effectively an electromagnetic ohms calculator. Just beautiful.

 

[Nick Palmer]

I have a Megger mft1552 which I bought in July 2007 and a LTW325 which I bought in June 2009. Never had any issues with either. Thinking of upgrading to a mft1741(+) .

 

[SparkySy]

I've just done the same, had my trusty Mft1552 since late 2006 and is still passing calibration and never missed a beat.
Just bought the 1741+ and it's every bit as reliable and am very pleased with it. A worthy investment, hopefully it will last as well as the 1552!
Sy