Choosing the right electrical testing instrument is essential for confirming electrical safety and for ensuring a successful outcome for your electrical testing. Test instruments are used for diagnosing issues and also for confirming that systems are functioning, safe, and that they comply with regulatory standards. Therefore choosing the right instrument to use is one of the most fundamental elements of your electrical testing system.
There are many different test instruments available, and it can be difficult to find the right model, to understand what parameters you need to consider and which of these should be prioritised.
Key factors to consider when choosing a test instrument
The main factors you need to consider when choosing a test instrument include:
- Test requirements – Consider the specific elements of your project and what you are testing. Is it residential, industrial or commercial? Each of these presents a different type of hazard or testing parameter in terms of voltage, system size and components. So if you know the demands of the system and the regulatory requirements, it makes it easier to select an instrument to meet these needs.
- Type of instrument – If you need to carry out one specific test then you might only need an insulation tester, a clamp meter or a voltage tester, for example. Many inspection and testing regimes require multiple tests and general diagnostics, however, and hence a multimeter or a multi-function tester might be better.
- Safety and compliance – It is essential that you prioritise safety and that an instrument is capable of measuring and reading to the right industry standards. So check that an instrument is appropriately rated, for standards such as CAT ratings or CE certification.
- Capability – Can the test instrument cover the voltage range you need, such as AC/DC voltages and the range of 12-1000V used for most troubleshooting issues?
- Functionality – Is the interface user-friendly with good menus and automatic set-up? Is it light and portable? Is the LCD screen readable? Is it made well and is robust and durable for the conditions you are working in? High quality instruments that are well made with all these features are more likely to provide accurate results, and you should also stick to reputable manufacturers who have a track record of accurate and reliable test instruments.
- Future-proofing – Are your testing requirements likely to change in the future? Or are the standards you need to test to likely to change? And can the instrument accommodate these changes? Investing in brand new instruments should make them good value for money and should therefore mean you get years of use out of an instrument. A new instrument is also more likely to be able to accommodate software updates and be able to adapt to new test requirements.
So, in summary, in order to choose the right electrical tester, you should:
- Define your application needs and what accuracy and reliability is needed
- Consider safety ratings and compliance requirements
- Think about durability and build quality
- Look for good user features that make the tester functional and easy to use.
Budget should not be a primary consideration, though obviously the instrument needs to be cost-effective. Good quality test instruments should always be prioritised and a cheaper product may not always offer the same accuracy and reliability, or the same safety features.
Please note that this section is for information purposes only. Anyone using equipment referred to in this section must be suitably qualified and/or experienced within the respective field. If in doubt before use, please consult a qualified electrician or engineer & thoroughly read all instruction booklets.