Fuse Finder.

[Guest123]

Evening chaps,

Can anyone confirm wether or not this unit is actually any good i.e, does it actually do what it says on the tin???

Martindale FD600 Professional Fuse Finder Kit

I have some investigation works to carry out in a very sensitive environment and need to be 100% sure before I knock any fuses/breakers off.


Will this unit actually pinpoint a live circuits OCPD in a crowded DB so I know the schedule is correct and it is safe to isolate it??


Does anyone have any other models they swear by for this kind of work??


Many thanks in advance.:smilewinkgrin:

 

[telectrix]

used a similar model a while ago. problem with them is that when you've got a load of circuits, they pick up induced voltages. by adjusting sensitivity, you can usually find the correct fuse/mcb, but not 100%, a bit like glorified volt sticks.

 

[Guest123]

These are my worries, any induced voltage would affect the accuracy of the instrument and consequently I wouldn't be 100% sure.

The client is being totally unreasonable in that I'm not allowed to isolate anything unless I'm 100% sure it does what it says on the schedule. The consequences of pulling the wrong one are huge!

 

[telectrix]

we eventually resorted to the old tried and tested method. there were 12 DBs. all EE red spot HRCs. dabbed L onto trunking. found correct fuse, no problem.

 

[snowhead]

Can you not clamp the cable you suspect is correct at the board and at the equipment end and power it on / off and check the currents are the same and you have control of it?

Works for us.

 

[telectrix]

good thinking. wish i was clever. a couple more pints may help.

 

[SPARTYKUS]

Here here Tel.

number 4 coming up

 

[mogga]

Iv used martindale and socket n see both with resonable results on packed Dbs dont think you will get a 100% gaurentee from any of them tho Client sounds like a right monkey

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Evening chaps,

Can anyone confirm wether or not this unit is actually any good i.e, does it actually do what it says on the tin???

Martindale FD600 Professional Fuse Finder Kit

I have some investigation works to carry out in a very sensitive environment and need to be 100% sure before I knock any fuses/breakers off.


Will this unit actually pinpoint a live circuits OCPD in a crowded DB so I know the schedule is correct and it is safe to isolate it??


Does anyone have any other models they swear by for this kind of work??


Many thanks in advance.:smilewinkgrin:

Don't buy one Lenny. It's based on analogue technology and consequently has poor discrimination. There are better devices on the market the FD600 has been superceeded by the FD550 and FD650 digital models which I can confirm from side by side testing are superior. From the Martindale stable, I'd go for the FD650 kit. However, from my tests, the Fluke 2042 cable locator is premier league champion by a long way, but you'll need a wod of dosh as it's got a premium price tag too.

Martindale FD650 Elite Fuse Finder Kit
Fluke 2042

 

[nickblake]

ive got the socket and see found it to be reasonably acurate didnt half save alot of time

 

[telectrix]

Don't buy one Lenny. It's based on analogue technology and consequently has poor discrimination. There are better devices on the market the FD600 has been superceeded by the FD550 and FD650 digital models which I can confirm from side by side testing are superior. From the Martindale stable, I'd go for the FD650 kit. However, from my tests, the Fluke 2042 cable locator is premier league champion by a long way, but you'll need a wod of dosh as it's got a premium price tag too.

Martindale FD650 Elite Fuse Finder Kit
Fluke 2042

noy
t that bad, £75. fromtestmeter

 

[LineProducts]

I have a sub 20 quid version that is brilliant (try ebay or maplin). Problem is that without isolating fuses signal is just passed through the whole circuit.
You could always put an un-insulated screwdriver in the socket see which fuse blows!:death: or if rcbo then just run test.

 

[spanner48]

Generally the types that are a two part system comprising a generator/transmitter and a detector/receiver are better than a simple one piece tracer that detects the magnetic/electric field of a powered cable. A digital coded matched transmitter and receiver pair are more sensitive, discriminating and accurate than an analogue generator and detector pair. The two part systems come in three power types:-

1) Battery powered transmitter and receiver, only suitable for use on a de-energised circuit or installation.
2) Installation circuit powered transmitter and battery powered receiver, this system is only suitable for an energised circuit.
3) A combination kit with a transmitter can use either mode of power.

Try:
DiLog PL500 around £50
Martindale FD550 ±£56
Tempo PTS ±£72
PCE-191CB ±£77
BEHA-Amprobe SF100-D ±£120

 

[Octopus]

Old thread alert!

 

[westward10]

Old thread alert!

Could have told me earlier

 

[HandySparks]

Could have told me earlier

What. Back in 2012?