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

 

[Geoffsd]

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

It's the other way round.

Most multi-meters, and this one (Fluke 117) in normal AC voltage mode, have an impedance >5 Mega ohms.

In LoZ (Low impedance) it is only around 3 Kilo ohms and automatically ranges for AC and DC.

 

[tony mc]

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

Must admit I have a few meters and the one I use the most is the Megger MIT 320 excellent bit of kit for IR testing but also has low Ohms and K Ohm setting which is good for fault finding IMO!!

 

[silver surfer]

Megger DLRO 10 HD goes to 4 decimal places for low resistance readings.

Megger LTW 425 goes to 3 decimal places for Earth Loop readings.

 

[Engineer54]

Megger DLRO 10 HD goes to 4 decimal places for low resistance readings.

Not exactly your normal common a garden low resistance meter though is it?? This is what is commonly know as a ''Ductor'' tester that applies a high current into the test piece via current and voltage probes (4 point contact probes)!! Oh and probably costs around the 2k to 2.5k quid mark...

Did i mention, it's also a totally inappropriate bit of test kit for measuring the resistance of circuit wiring to boot.....

 

[shanky887614]

there is no such thing as the most accurate insulation resistance tester, when its been calibrated there all the same, quality and reliability is what sets them apart

if they have same range that is

 

[davesparks]

Nonsense, just because a tester is calibrated it doesn't mean it is of equal accuracy to another calibrated meter.

I've got a calibrated vernier caliper and a calibrated micrometer, they measure the same thing but to different accuracy.

 

[Engineer54]

there is no such thing as the most accurate insulation resistance tester, when its been calibrated there all the same, quality and reliability is what sets them apart

if they have same range that is

Sure there is, ....it depends on the accuracy of the meter, generally the higher the accuracy the higher the cost!! lol!!

 

[shanky887614]

Nonsense, just because a tester is calibrated it doesn't mean it is of equal accuracy to another calibrated meter.

I've got a calibrated vernier caliper and a calibrated micrometer, they measure the same thing but to different accuracy.

they are different types though, if you compare two micrometers there wont be much if any difference betweem them if they have been calibrated

 

[silver surfer]

Not exactly your normal common a garden low resistance meter though is it?? This is what is commonly know as a ''Ductor'' tester that applies a high current into the test piece via current and voltage probes (4 point contact probes)!! Oh and probably costs around the 2k to 2.5k quid mark...

Did i mention, it's also a totally inappropriate bit of test kit for measuring the resistance of circuit wiring to boot.....

But never the less an option for the OP to ponder.............
Lets not make presumptions on his available budget or technical capabilities..............
That would be rude...................

 

[silver surfer]

Sure there is, ....it depends on the accuracy of the meter, generally the higher the accuracy the higher the cost!! lol!!

Agreed anywhere up to 2.5 grand