Thanks for stopping by and commenting. You are right, it is a general use instrument, basic functionality that will give you a go / no-go indication for basic non-professional work. It is that borderline area for test results, where it may be in accurate, but probably unusual for a circuit to be partially failed.
I have been a qualified electrician for thirty eight years , my go to tester is a Robin KTS 1620 MFT , I also have a newer Kewtech KT63 MFT , and I have a the very same vici insulation resistance / continuity tester , which I have never had any issues with , the vici is a Chinese copy of the Robin testers and are designed to work with 1.5v alkaline batteries only. Rechargeable batteries are not recommended for the very reason you have shown in this video they knock the accuracy of the machine out there are only two or three brands that can take rechargeable batteries metrel is one of them and I think Megger has two models that can take rechargeable battery’s .. The two machines you have in the video are perfect for fault finding. And as a starter tester for apprentices coming into the industry. I check the accuracy of all my test equipment once a month on a Kewtech check box and never get any deviation they are always within the specified tolerance.
I have successfully used rechargeable batteries in all my insulation testers from numerous manufacturers. Yes these testers will work fine for some people. In my work place though, I have to have calibrated instruments and both of these fail the standard IEC 61557 calibration tests, even when powered by alkaline batteries. As another commenter has pointed out, they would be better than having no insulation tester at all. Appreciate you watching and commenting.
thanks for sharing ... I got a UNI-T recently , they are pretty good actually , much better than Victor. My victor stopped working when the cable i was testing failed the test !
dang, that Kauto VC60B 1:25 409 GB pounds - thats hopefully bulk pricing and a bundle of 20pcs. got a VC60B // 250, 500, 1000, 750AC, M/G Ohm button (brand E One) that i picked up from Banggood like 7 or 8 years back when they sold them for prices where it made sense to get one, to simply explore as they wrre sold so cheap, even though I didnt needed one and was not even sure what they were used for when I purchased mine... it was something like 20 euro delivered to Denmark. It still works fine, but also havent been used a lot.. Tried to test it while seeing your video. (battery 9.22v) 250v = 248.8v 500v = 500.9v 1000v = 978v Owon B35 series DMM all pretty much locked, only a few counts fluctiatingto a lock though it does seem to drop a few volt depending on if I hold down the button manually (like I did) or if i turn it for a lock. likely soem variable in the switch contact . Tried put in a few close to empty cells 1.10v only had 4 of the 6.. but voltage down to 7.52v 250v = 247.4v 500v =500.6v 1000v = 974v the only range I get above the listed, is 500v the battery hinge screw are fitted into metal threaded insert on E-One VC60B and that unit also only uses 6x AA + 2 spare compartment. thx for the vid, topnudge (as always)
Thaks for taking the time to test your unit. Confirms that it does look like there is some sort of an issue with the regulator in the instrument. Yeah, some ridiculous prices around for the VC60B. Thanks for watching as always.
In this case, you get what you pay for and having one of these is better than not having any insulation tester at all. Good for spot checks, like you said, but not good for long term trending of equipment or for meeting the IEC specs. But I think definitely worth the money to check a questionable piece of equipment vs testing it under mains power and have it let the smoke out.
It is probably going to be a compromise between the price, functionality and the user requirements. The TIS1835 looks to be a rebranded Uni-T UT505A, which I reviewed a while back. It is more of an insulation multimeter, where as these VC60B units are basic insulation / continuity testers. I haven't looked at any Peakmeter units, but a lot of them do appear to be rebranded CEM units, that are also sold under the Extech, DiLog and RS Pro brands amongst others. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I do have to wonder who is buying these. I've had very variable results with my Metrel tester which I assumed was down to the batteries being low as when you recharge them the reading increases again. I got most of the way through filming a video about it before I worked out it was nothing to do with the batteries (the readings are consistent throughout the input voltage range and it won't let you test if the batteries are very low) but entirely due to where I'd stored it. My Seaward and Brymen testers are significantly more consistent but the Metrel I've had reading about 150MOhm on my 200Mohm check box. I'm not sure if it's temperature or damp that's doing it, but keeping it inside in the warm and dry fixes it. The warmth of recharging the batteries is what it likes. Not all that helpful when it spends most of its time living in the back of a slightly damp Land Rover! The Seaward and Metrel live together, but the Seaward is much more prone to being used outside and has got very wet on a number of occasions to no apparent ill effects other than lots of condensation on the inside of the screen.
I would imagine they are sold predominantly within the internal market where they are manufactured. After that I would imagine it would be the usual hobbyists / diyer, looking for a cheap option, Interesting with regard to the Metrel, I like their equipment, but haven't added any of them to my review list yet. Seaward are usually quite robust old school style, so I would expect them to perform. The Brymen I tested was pretty sound for general electrical work.
Probably sufficient for a guy like me that enjoys tinkering and a general handyman. Thanks for the review!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. You are right, it is a general use instrument, basic functionality that will give you a go / no-go indication for basic non-professional work. It is that borderline area for test results, where it may be in accurate, but probably unusual for a circuit to be partially failed.
I have been a qualified electrician for thirty eight years , my go to tester is a Robin KTS 1620 MFT , I also have a newer Kewtech KT63 MFT , and I have a the very same vici insulation resistance / continuity tester , which I have never had any issues with , the vici is a Chinese copy of the Robin testers and are designed to work with 1.5v alkaline batteries only. Rechargeable batteries are not recommended for the very reason you have shown in this video they knock the accuracy of the machine out there are only two or three brands that can take rechargeable batteries metrel is one of them and I think Megger has two models that can take rechargeable battery’s ..
The two machines you have in the video are perfect for fault finding. And as a starter tester for apprentices coming into the industry. I check the accuracy of all my test equipment once a month on a Kewtech check box and never get any deviation they are always within the specified tolerance.
I have successfully used rechargeable batteries in all my insulation testers from numerous manufacturers. Yes these testers will work fine for some people. In my work place though, I have to have calibrated instruments and both of these fail the standard IEC 61557 calibration tests, even when powered by alkaline batteries. As another commenter has pointed out, they would be better than having no insulation tester at all.
Appreciate you watching and commenting.
I used one of the VC60B to diagnose a hybrid car high voltage system. Worked just fine beats buying a $700+ fluke
If it works for you then that's great. Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
Thanks for sharing
You are welcome, hope you found it useful. Thanks for watching and commenting.
thanks for sharing ... I got a UNI-T recently , they are pretty good actually , much better than Victor. My victor stopped working when the cable i was testing failed the test !
Thanks for watching and commenting. Uni-T make some reliable test equipment and it should serve you well.
dang, that Kauto VC60B 1:25 409 GB pounds - thats hopefully bulk pricing and a bundle of 20pcs.
got a VC60B // 250, 500, 1000, 750AC, M/G Ohm button (brand E One) that i picked up from Banggood like 7 or 8 years back when they sold them for prices where it made sense to get one, to simply explore as they wrre sold so cheap, even though I didnt needed one and was not even sure what they were used for when I purchased mine... it was something like 20 euro delivered to Denmark.
It still works fine, but also havent been used a lot..
Tried to test it while seeing your video. (battery 9.22v)
250v = 248.8v
500v = 500.9v
1000v = 978v
Owon B35 series DMM
all pretty much locked, only a few counts fluctiatingto a lock though it does seem to drop a few volt depending on if I hold down the button manually (like I did) or if i turn it for a lock.
likely soem variable in the switch contact .
Tried put in a few close to empty cells 1.10v only had 4 of the 6.. but voltage down to 7.52v
250v = 247.4v
500v =500.6v
1000v = 974v
the only range I get above the listed, is 500v
the battery hinge screw are fitted into metal threaded insert on E-One VC60B and that unit also only uses 6x AA + 2 spare compartment.
thx for the vid, topnudge (as always)
Thaks for taking the time to test your unit. Confirms that it does look like there is some sort of an issue with the regulator in the instrument. Yeah, some ridiculous prices around for the VC60B.
Thanks for watching as always.
In this case, you get what you pay for and having one of these is better than not having any insulation tester at all. Good for spot checks, like you said, but not good for long term trending of equipment or for meeting the IEC specs. But I think definitely worth the money to check a questionable piece of equipment vs testing it under mains power and have it let the smoke out.
That pretty much sums it up. They both seem widely available, so somebody must be buying them!
@@three-phase562 I almost bought one of those cheaper models.... but bought a Uni-T, which is a slight step up. Works fine for my uses.
We got our electrician a TIS1835 which CEF sell for £200 - not sure how low you should go price wise but PeakTech's insulation meter looks ok.
It is probably going to be a compromise between the price, functionality and the user requirements. The TIS1835 looks to be a rebranded Uni-T UT505A, which I reviewed a while back. It is more of an insulation multimeter, where as these VC60B units are basic insulation / continuity testers.
I haven't looked at any Peakmeter units, but a lot of them do appear to be rebranded CEM units, that are also sold under the Extech, DiLog and RS Pro brands amongst others.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
I do have to wonder who is buying these.
I've had very variable results with my Metrel tester which I assumed was down to the batteries being low as when you recharge them the reading increases again.
I got most of the way through filming a video about it before I worked out it was nothing to do with the batteries (the readings are consistent throughout the input voltage range and it won't let you test if the batteries are very low) but entirely due to where I'd stored it. My Seaward and Brymen testers are significantly more consistent but the Metrel I've had reading about 150MOhm on my 200Mohm check box.
I'm not sure if it's temperature or damp that's doing it, but keeping it inside in the warm and dry fixes it. The warmth of recharging the batteries is what it likes. Not all that helpful when it spends most of its time living in the back of a slightly damp Land Rover! The Seaward and Metrel live together, but the Seaward is much more prone to being used outside and has got very wet on a number of occasions to no apparent ill effects other than lots of condensation on the inside of the screen.
I would imagine they are sold predominantly within the internal market where they are manufactured. After that I would imagine it would be the usual hobbyists / diyer, looking for a cheap option,
Interesting with regard to the Metrel, I like their equipment, but haven't added any of them to my review list yet. Seaward are usually quite robust old school style, so I would expect them to perform. The Brymen I tested was pretty sound for general electrical work.