Meters Good, bad, and ugly.

[Bod]

There have been many topics, that require an electrical meter to obtain reading that can help solve the problems.

Here I am putting up photos of meters I have, hopefully to show the differences, to enable a useful one to be obtained.

1.

 

Probably the best type.  This does volts, amps, and ohms.  The clamp at the top reads DC amps.  Many cheaper types do not, and for boating purposes are not good.

 

2.

 

A more general type, useful for volts and ohms, less useful for amps.  This is shown set up for measuring volts, to a max of 20 volts DC.

 

3.

 

A more expensive version. Again set to read volts DC.

 

4.

Almost useless type, no accurate reading can be done.

 

5.

Bulb and wire. Can be useful, if no meter is available. Give a yes/no answer to "Do I have power here?"

 

6.

"AVO" types need knowledge to set up correctly, and need careful reading.

The "Windsor" is looking for a new home, which will give it care and attention, to fix it's ills. (some parts appear not to be working)

Yes the sharp eyed will have spotted the last one was made in  the USSR in 1971!

 

Hope this has shown some of the differences in meter types.

Bod

 

[Bod]

The "Windsor" now has a new home.

 

Bod

[Keith M]

Kewtech make a nice clamp meter at a reasonable price

[Batavia]

Wot? No Fluke?

 

Chris G

[Keith M]

yes, some of my own meter's are fluke they are used daily and also calibrated annually.

Safe isolation equipment and earth leakage tester I use Martindale. 

 

I also some Kewtech and megger testers

Different tester for different applications. 

Edited January 23, 2019 by Keith M

[Jess--]

dissapointed about the lack of Avo 8

 

I run the AVO M5091, It's the only meter I have known to survive accidentally testing the resistance of the national grid

[WotEver]

13 minutes ago, Jess-- said:

dissapointed about the lack of Avo 8

 

I run the AVO M5091, It's the only meter I have known to survive accidentally testing the resistance of the national grid

So what WAS the resistance of the national grid?

 

[cuthound]

24 minutes ago, Jess-- said:

dissapointed about the lack of Avo 8

 

I run the AVO M5091, It's the only meter I have known to survive accidentally testing the resistance of the national grid

 

Many moons ago, my work gave me the very first digital AVO. It had piano keys to select function and range and a red digital display.

 

One day my boss "borrowed" it to measure the voltage across the busbars of a 75,000 amp hour battery system.

 

Trouble was he set the meter to amps on the  x 0.001 range.

 

It never worked again, even the glass of the online fuse designed to protect against over current had melted! ?

[Keith M]

32 minutes ago, Jess-- said:

disappointed about the lack of Avo 8

 

 

I started my working life with the GPO later become a member of BT I regularly used an AVO during my days with BT

Edited January 23, 2019 by Keith M

[Slim]

You've missed one out, an insulation meter known generically as a Megga.

Although only a DIYer I've got several meters of the types you have shown dotted about the boat and at home. All have their uses. However, my sub £30 Chinese insulation tester really earned it's keep last summer. It allowed me to prove categorically the boats 230 ac was blameless when the supply RCD kept tripping. Not claiming for one second that the readings were accurate but they were indicative.        

 

[Keith M]

I do own two insulation tester, one of which is design for low voltage AC and DC systems.

 

I also have a Portable Osiliscrope for generator and inverter output testing.

[tree monkey]

3 hours ago, Keith M said:

yes, some of my own meter's are fluke they are used daily and also calibrated annually.

Safe isolation equipment and earth leakage tester I use Martindale. 

 

I also some Kewtech and megger testers

Different tester for different applications. 

Those are names from a past life, I spent a few years running about 5 arb utility teams but as part of the deal I was given 2 lines teams.

It was a serious learning curve and tbh I thought they were taking the piss when I was asked for a megger, although it was a request for a set of insulated podgers that broke me

[carlt]

2 hours ago, cuthound said:

 

 

It never worked again, even the glass of the online fuse designed to protect against over current had melted! ?

 

Was this an early example of "Smart Meters - do they kill people?"

Edited January 23, 2019 by carlt

[cuthound]

22 minutes ago, carlt said:

 

Was this an early example of "Smart Meters - do they kill people?"

 

Unfortunately it is my spillchucker imposing its will on who I wrote again. ?

Should of been inline not online. 

[frahkn]

8 hours ago, Bod said:

The "Windsor" now has a new home.

 

Bod

Nah, it's still in Canon Street. Mind you, it a bit rundown these days.