Hi all, spent most of my morning looking for customer reviews on Multifunction 16/17th Testers and this site kept coming up in the Google searches so thought Id sign up and get a more taylored opinion
Im in the market for a new tester but really dont know what to go with. Laterly (last 4 years) Ive used Metrels which I have found to be excelent until I convinced my last boss to try them (which I'll explain further down) and now Im stuck.
My previous tester encounters are as follows:
Robin/Fluke
Served my time using the old Robin seperates, decent enough robust testers which I stayed with until I bought my first multifunction tester back in mid 90's which was a Metrohm. Didnt use Robin again till about 10 years ago when I got one on trial but it constantly tripped RCD's so didnt buy it then again about 6 years ago (round about the time they became Fluke) my boss at that time got 1 and he hated it claiming it always gave unreliable results and was hard to use, on the very few occassions I used it I had no issues.
Currently looking at the 1652C or 1653B
Metrohm
Originally a CEF owened company and my first multifunction tester which served me well for many years, unfortunately they no longer exist as they were bought over by Martindale in 2003.
Martindale
I have no previous experience with Martindale testers (other than their plug in socket tester lol) and there is very little info on them on the net.
Currently looking at the VR2250
Kewtech
No previous experience using Kewtech test instruments other than their Socket'N'See stuff which wasnt very good build quality IMO.
Currently looking at the KT65
Metrel
I had an old Eurotester about 13/14 year go and found it to be very good, later used the early equivelent of the MI3000 and the MI3100 again good reliable testers then about 2 years ago, my boss of that time bought 2 MI3100 on my recommendation and I bought a MI3000 for my personal use. The MI3100 were excelent as expected then they strted to play up, the first was sent back to be recalibrated and was fine for a couple month then started playing up again so was sent back for repair to only progressively get worse, in the mean time we were repeating these steps with the second but about 2 months later eventually Metrel told us we were on our own. My personal MI3000 wasnt getting used much at all but Ive recently started a new job and Ive been using this the last 2 weeks till we find and buy one for the company and now mine is starting to get iffy.
Basically the problems were as follows:
Faulty leads
Continiously having to zero leads on continuity tests
Insullation Resistance tests giving random fause results 300 to 800Mohm on brand new circuits and even on newely opened cable on drum!
Earth Loop & PSC results varying (that could be this area though)
Currently looking (with loathing) at the newer MI3100
Megger
Tried on trial at the same time 2 Meggers (cant remember model) about 10 years ago and found them to be very unreliable as both were giving different results from my current tester of that time and different readings from each other when used to test the same brand new installation, I therefore put them back.
Currently looking at the MFT1730
Sorry if Ive bored you all lol, I did find some usefull info on and off this site but not enough to make a decission so I am hoping that as many of you as possible will give me your personal views on these, the models Ive put as 'currently looking at' was just a quick look as Ive not done a proper comparison yet but in short Im looking for something that will cover me for most applications with a 'no trip earth loop' function as being a high priority and preferably a rechargeable battery too, downloadable functions not necessary as with earth electrode test but always nice to have the option should I ever need it. cost isnt too much of an issue (as its not my money lol) but dont want to spend over the odds either.
If youve made it this far in what I have just realised is a pretty mamoth post then thanks for reading
Im in the market for a new tester but really dont know what to go with. Laterly (last 4 years) Ive used Metrels which I have found to be excelent until I convinced my last boss to try them (which I'll explain further down) and now Im stuck.
My previous tester encounters are as follows:
Robin/Fluke
Served my time using the old Robin seperates, decent enough robust testers which I stayed with until I bought my first multifunction tester back in mid 90's which was a Metrohm. Didnt use Robin again till about 10 years ago when I got one on trial but it constantly tripped RCD's so didnt buy it then again about 6 years ago (round about the time they became Fluke) my boss at that time got 1 and he hated it claiming it always gave unreliable results and was hard to use, on the very few occassions I used it I had no issues.
Currently looking at the 1652C or 1653B
Metrohm
Originally a CEF owened company and my first multifunction tester which served me well for many years, unfortunately they no longer exist as they were bought over by Martindale in 2003.
Martindale
I have no previous experience with Martindale testers (other than their plug in socket tester lol) and there is very little info on them on the net.
Currently looking at the VR2250
Kewtech
No previous experience using Kewtech test instruments other than their Socket'N'See stuff which wasnt very good build quality IMO.
Currently looking at the KT65
Metrel
I had an old Eurotester about 13/14 year go and found it to be very good, later used the early equivelent of the MI3000 and the MI3100 again good reliable testers then about 2 years ago, my boss of that time bought 2 MI3100 on my recommendation and I bought a MI3000 for my personal use. The MI3100 were excelent as expected then they strted to play up, the first was sent back to be recalibrated and was fine for a couple month then started playing up again so was sent back for repair to only progressively get worse, in the mean time we were repeating these steps with the second but about 2 months later eventually Metrel told us we were on our own. My personal MI3000 wasnt getting used much at all but Ive recently started a new job and Ive been using this the last 2 weeks till we find and buy one for the company and now mine is starting to get iffy.
Basically the problems were as follows:
Faulty leads
Continiously having to zero leads on continuity tests
Insullation Resistance tests giving random fause results 300 to 800Mohm on brand new circuits and even on newely opened cable on drum!
Earth Loop & PSC results varying (that could be this area though)
Currently looking (with loathing) at the newer MI3100
Megger
Tried on trial at the same time 2 Meggers (cant remember model) about 10 years ago and found them to be very unreliable as both were giving different results from my current tester of that time and different readings from each other when used to test the same brand new installation, I therefore put them back.
Currently looking at the MFT1730
Sorry if Ive bored you all lol, I did find some usefull info on and off this site but not enough to make a decission so I am hoping that as many of you as possible will give me your personal views on these, the models Ive put as 'currently looking at' was just a quick look as Ive not done a proper comparison yet but in short Im looking for something that will cover me for most applications with a 'no trip earth loop' function as being a high priority and preferably a rechargeable battery too, downloadable functions not necessary as with earth electrode test but always nice to have the option should I ever need it. cost isnt too much of an issue (as its not my money lol) but dont want to spend over the odds either.
If youve made it this far in what I have just realised is a pretty mamoth post then thanks for reading