Author Topic: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?  (Read 3628 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline evavaTopic starter

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 172
  • Country: cz
insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« on: July 09, 2018, 08:01:26 am »
Hello boys,

I am in "need" of handheld insulation tester   ;)
and into narrower selection got these meters:

Fluke 1507 - Fluke meters usually do what are supposed to do, of course this would be winner if the price was lower than it is (even on fleabay).
manual: https://dam-assets.fluke.com/s3fs-public/1507____umeng0000.pdf

Brymen BM877 - solid performer probably
manual: http://www5.biall.com.pl/BAZA_PRODUKTOW_SMB/102133/102133.INSTRUKCJA_EN..2014-12-15.1.pdf

Uni-T UT505b - the most bells and whistles, the biggest range of 200Gohms, the lowest price, but it is Uni-T - you never know what you get  :-\
manual: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4Jyby-tjH5oNG5xVktxNmJQdlk/view

I would very much appreciate your views and opinions.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2018, 08:05:10 am by evava »
 

Offline JS

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 947
  • Country: ar
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2018, 08:22:42 am »
I'd probably choose the brymen, bad experience with a uni-t, I wish it still was working as I found it useful for ball park stuff, it had L measurements which was the only way I had to measure that without setting up a rig. All of those around.

Brymen would be handy for me to carry one around with the extra dmm functionality, I don't quite get the earth continuity function, it's just a high current, low resistance function?

Fluke would give the most confidence out of your measurements for the years to come, if you don't need an all function in a carry out device and just would be sitting in the lab around a lot of others dmms (and you can afford and justify the expense)

JS

If I don't know how it works, I prefer not to turn it on.
 

Offline rsjsouza

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 6105
  • Country: us
  • Eternally curious
    • Vbe - vídeo blog eletrônico
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2018, 01:01:38 pm »
I have a UT513 that works very well, but it tends to freeze if there is a breakdown. They fixed that in the UT513A, which is the version I would buy today.

Depending on the seriousness of the job, I think Megger is unbeatable (on par with Fluke's prices, though).

https://us.megger.com/products/insulation-testing
Vbe - vídeo blog eletrônico http://videos.vbeletronico.com

Oh, the "whys" of the datasheets... The information is there not to be an axiomatic truth, but instead each speck of data must be slowly inhaled while carefully performing a deep search inside oneself to find the true metaphysical sense...
 

Offline schmitt trigger

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2431
  • Country: mx
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2018, 01:05:03 pm »
At work, we have the Fluke 1587FC. Excellent piece of equipment and it has saved our day more than once.

It is expensive though, about US$ 700.
 

Offline noidea

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 209
  • Country: au
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2018, 01:40:48 pm »
Probably a question you should ask yourself is do you really need the DMM functions as well in the same unit or do you just need the insulation testing functions? If you are just using it for insulation resistance testing them you can save a fair bit of money buying something else. What are you going to be using it for?
My pick would be the Brymen for all round electrical testing, I was close to buying one myself partially for the better low ohms resolution “earth continuity testing“ ability than the fluke but happened to pick up a slightly used metrahit 27i with four wire milliohms capability for a little bit more than the Brymen.
I have other Brymen and Fluke meters so are not biased to either.
« Last Edit: July 09, 2018, 01:48:25 pm by noidea »
 

Offline rsjsouza

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 6105
  • Country: us
  • Eternally curious
    • Vbe - vídeo blog eletrônico
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2018, 03:38:22 pm »
Oh, BTW: I just recalled I did a small writeup of my experiences with the UT513 - they still hold true today.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/anyone-with-experience-on-these-uni-t-ut5111213/msg919760/#msg919760
Vbe - vídeo blog eletrônico http://videos.vbeletronico.com

Oh, the "whys" of the datasheets... The information is there not to be an axiomatic truth, but instead each speck of data must be slowly inhaled while carefully performing a deep search inside oneself to find the true metaphysical sense...
 

Offline Lionered

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 18
  • Country: us
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2018, 06:05:08 pm »
I have not tried any one of these but I will pick Brymen once I need to use such tool.
 

Offline kripton2035

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 2711
  • Country: fr
    • kripton2035 schematics repository
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #7 on: July 09, 2018, 07:45:20 pm »
I bought a used fluke 1507 for some 200 euros. just put some automatic searches and wait . you will get one.
 

Offline rjardina

  • Contributor
  • Posts: 49
  • Country: us
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2018, 02:06:26 am »
I have not used either the fluke 1507 nor brymen 877. But have used the Fluke 1587 and Brymen 878., which are the sister meters. Both great meters. the 878 is my personal and could not be happier with it. A lot of my jobs have the fluke 1587 and have used it many times. The newer fluke 1587FC has PI and DAR. I like the 878 over the 1587 just due to the earth testing.
 

Offline TERRA Operative

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3166
  • Country: jp
  • Voider of warranties
    • Near Far Media Youtube
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2018, 02:26:39 am »
I have the Fluke 1587. Bought it years ago and used it every day as an electrician for years. I work on the bench now and it still gets used.

Never had a problem with it at all. Whenever it was calibrated, it was always better than stated specs (So never needed adjustment) and was great for zapping the apprentice with. :D

I only wish it could measure more than 550mA, but I ended up with a clamp meter for that anyway.
Where does all this test equipment keep coming from?!?

https://www.youtube.com/NearFarMedia/
 

Offline TERRA Operative

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 3166
  • Country: jp
  • Voider of warranties
    • Near Far Media Youtube
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2018, 03:59:45 am »
My U1461A was literally going to kill me -- it failed to read voltage in ACV mode even the input is indeed hot.

This is why I chose the Fluke.
One blip and I get a good dose of 415V limited only by a breaker rated in the 10's or 100's of amps. :)

For field work, I'll take reliability over features anyday.
On the bench where my life isn't at stake, I'll suffer a glitch or two for more shiny bits. :D
Where does all this test equipment keep coming from?!?

https://www.youtube.com/NearFarMedia/
 

Offline evavaTopic starter

  • Regular Contributor
  • *
  • Posts: 172
  • Country: cz
Re: insulation tester - have someone any experience with?
« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2018, 09:00:25 am »
Thank you all very much for your observations!
Meanwhile I found locally for sale (about $10) this old insulation meter from METRA BLANSKO

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/metra_blan_transistorized_insulation_messer_pu_371.html

for first attempts and for gaining some experience.
And then I will see..
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf