Most accurate Insulation Resistance tester out there?

[allybally]

I'm just wondering is there a really accurate IR tester on the market

many thanks

 

[Pete999]

Well all my test instruments, when I was bust working were Fluke, bu IMHO I think they are all pretty much a mchness, others may not agree but that's what I have found, for what it's worth.

 

[allybally]

Sorry I choose the wrong word to use, not accurate, I want one that goes lower that 0.00 M ohms, to more decimal places

 

[Pete999]

Use an Ohm meter then

 

[davesparks]

You don't want an insulation resistance tester for testing such low impedances!

 

[SJD]

I think perhaps the problem is that a typical MFT measures continuity up to about 2000 Ohm, and measures IR with a readout from 0.01 MOhm to maybe 199 MOhm or 1999 MOhm. My KT64 does this.

So there is a gap, from 2kOhm to 10kOhm, where you can't measure the resistance with a MFT, other than to say it is between these values. I really wish the manufacturers had thought about this, it can be useful to measure in this range when fault-finding sometimes.

 

[davesparks]

MFTs are not designed as a fault finding tool but as an all in one soloution for carrying out the standard installation tests in the regs.

 

[SJD]

MFTs are not designed as a fault finding tool but as an all in one soloution for carrying out the standard installation tests in the regs.

I know, and I also have in my tool bag both a multi-meter and a clamp meter. I just think it is a pity the MFTs were designed to do no more than the standard tests. Another example, my KT64 has a volts range, but below 25V, it just displays "<25V", I don't believe it would have been too difficult to make it display lower values.

 

[Engineer54]

It would be helpful to know what you are intending measuring, that way you would get far more useful answers...

 

[allybally]

At the moment i use my fluke 1652 as a fault finder as well, but would just like a better value than 0.01M ohms so when I'm tracing I have an idea if I'm going the right way

thanks

 

[Engineer54]

At the moment i use my fluke 1652 as a fault finder as well, but would just like a better value than 0.01M ohms so when I'm tracing I have an idea if I'm going the right way

thanks

Then you'll need a multimeter, even a good budget job will normally do.... Oh, and for those weird phantom voltages that can at times throw you off course, an even cheaper analogue multimeter...

 

[GMES]

Yeah if money permits a good Avo and Analogue as above

 

[7029 dave]

I got myself an analogue IR tester, Duoyi dy3165 from china nice bit of kit.

 

[SirKit Breaker]

Get yourself a combined IR/Continuity tester. Does what it says on the tin.

 

[stevethesparks]

I find the Fluke 117 to be a decent all round electricians multimeter. Its also got a "LoZ" setting to help eliminate ghost readings. The volt alert isn't up to much (similar to volt stick) but can have its uses.

 

[davesparks]

Robin K3131DL is my long serving and trusty fault finding meter, I highy recommend them.

 

[ipf]

Get yourself a combined IR/Continuity tester. Does what it says on the tin.

Agreed.
As far as I'm concerned, that is one basic peice of kit for a qualified electrician. I find it baffling how anyone could be without it. MFT's came in as a handy, all-in-one method for testing and inspection, an ideal peice of kit for a 'domestic installer'....never had one and never will.
In general it's an IR/continuity tester, loop/rcd tester and multimeter for me. ... more obviously come into play, depending on the situation, earth leakage tester, tongue ammeter, etc, etc.

 

[shanky887614]

I find the Fluke 117 to be a decent all round electricians multimeter. Its also got a "LoZ" setting to help eliminate ghost readings. The volt alert isn't up to much (similar to volt stick) but can have its uses.

what is the LoZ setting?

 

[allybally]

what is the LoZ setting?

It's a way of eliminating Ghost Voltages, it put an impedance on the circuit and will show a true voltage, similar to an analog meter

 

[shanky887614]

It's a way of eliminating Ghost Voltages, it put an impedance on the circuit and will show a true voltage, similar to an analog meter

thanks, had a look at that fluke tester and when I get my ticket ill get one