Insulation testing

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

I need to purchase a device that can perform basic insulation integrity tests on buried cables, as well as final circuits. If it can do Ze and ground rod resistivity checks too that's a bonus, but the important thing is insulation testing.

 

I won't be able to get authorisation to spend thousands of Dollars on a 'do everything' Fluke device. Obviously if I can get something from Fluke or Megger that's nice but I'm open to suggestions. Where can I get this in Thailand, do you have any basic models to suggest?

[wayned]

Measure Tronics Thailand has a number of testers, http://www.measuretronix.com/.

I'm sure that Crossy will be along with a recommendation.  I've purchased Fluke meters and had repairs done by  them in the past with no problems  They are an authorized Fluke repair center.

 

I haven't used an insulation tester since the late 1970s and it was the old crank type Megger, so I can't really recommend anything!

[wayned]

Also Megger Thailand http://www.meggermeterthailand.com/index.html.

 

I've never purchased anything from them.

[Crossy]

NPE http://www.mynpe.com/mynpe/home.php (branches in Zeer and Old Siam Plaza) have a selection of reasonably priced test kit. Or have a look at Electronic Source http://www.es.co.th/index.asp

 

Also you should be able to pick up a "16th Edition" multi-function installation tester on Ebay for a pretty nominal fee.

 

Something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metrel-MI3100-Installation-multifunction-tester-used-/182281273085

 

 

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

Thanks, me somewhere to start looking.

 

While we're on it, I don't know what the devices are called, and I've never seen them in any shops here, but it sends a 'ping' down a cable so you can use a related device to trace the cable. They're often used in telephony, but I want one for easy identification of unmarked live/neutral tails from a meter.

 

Also, there is a device that senses voltage in a cable simply by waving it over the cable. What are they called and where can I find one?

[Crossy]

The live cable sniffer is usually called a "Voltstick" (actually a trade name), most use a neon screwdriver (but it needs to contact the core).

 

To identify the cables from your meter either use your trusty neon again (on live cables) or buy a roll of the 'orrible 'speaker cable' and use it as a long probe on your multimeter.

 

The tone generator thingies (can't remember the proper name), I have seen here (in NPE IIRC) but there are much cheaper alternatives if it's just a one-off job.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

Honestly I'm sick of rolling out my 80 metres of botched together bits of tangled spaghetti spare wire to test which wire is which, it's a 30 second job with a 'pinger' probe. I've been doing the electrical stuff here for years now, why I want to start investing in some proper kit to ease the pain. Oh the pain.

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

I could probably get the budget to stretch to 17,000. How does this model look?. . .

http://th.rs-online.com/web/p/insulation-testers/9214517/?origin=PSF_436991|alt

 

With one of your above links, I found this dandy looking Fluke device. . .

http://www.es.co.th/detail.asp?Prod=006102485

[wayned]

The device that sends a "ping" down the cable is called a TDR, Time Domain Reflectometer.  They are great for finding shorts, opens, high resistance connections, water soaked cable, etc.  The line extender amplifier on my TOT line is exactly 924 meters from my incoming connection box.  There are two types, one for unpowered cable and another which does the same thing for powered cables.  They are not cheap!

[Led Lolly Yellow Lolly]

I have a Time Domain Reflectometer on a couple of my enterprise grade LAN switches, this model being one of them. . .

https://www.ubnt.com/edgemax/edgeswitch/

 

Indeed, this is a really great feature set for finding where a rat had his plastic lunch, but this is not what I have in mind, it's just a simple pocket device for sending a shrill signal into a wire so you can use the other pocket device to follow it through walls.

[shaemus]

Have a look at the socket and see brand http://www.socketandsee.co.uk/. they have a cable "sniffer" for use on live circuits. In telecoms they sometimes known as tone gernerators. As for volts sticks (proximity tester) and neon screwdrivers, i'd leave them well alone, they dont tell you how many volts are in the circuit.

 

Exactly what tests do you want to perform and what do you want to prove?

 

If you have the cash, then buy a Meggar earth resistance tester. its a clamp meter which tests the resistance to earth of whatever you can clamp it around.

 

uniT is a good cheap brand of test gear, but it is the most copied world wide so be carefull where you buy from!

 

Shaemus