To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

1000V insulation tester

M

matt_i

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2008
Messages
10,744
Location
SE Michigan
Hello, in the process of putting in 2-3 heated tile floors and I need to meg-ohm test the heating cable at install to make sure no issues with the heating cable installation that would be detected as leakage by the GFI...also backs any warranty claims.

Looking at AEMC #6527 ~ $275

or Fluke #1507 ~ $550.

I always trust Fluke and have several of their products, not against investing into it, but not exactly sure what I can use the meter for after these projects...

Thoughts or opinions on how to decide? Thanks!
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
T

theoldwizard1

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,246
Location
SE MI
What you want is commonly called a "megger". Commonly used in alternator/generator/motor rebuilding to test the insulation of the winding.

Using a megger to test insulation.

The price range for this tool is all over the place. From $100-$200 to over $1,000 ! The inexpensive ones have a tiny built in generator that makes high voltage for the test.
 
R

RPH

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 17, 2006
Messages
4,190
Location
Michigan Thumb
Used the fluke as the portable unit at work. High frequency transformer and bus work testing. This only does dc voltage. Make sure your test doesn’t require ac voltage.
 
M

mike93lx

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
37,883
Location
Richmond, VA
I bought one on ebay for under $100 that I used for my heater schluter floor. Seemed to work fine

Heck, pay for postage both ways and you can borrow it
 
T

Terry D

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 25, 2015
Messages
2,202
Location
St. Louis, MO.
I have been involved in many of these heated floor installs. Here is what you need. Works off a 9 volt battery. The mats leads should have a label from the factory with the correct resistance. Just a regular ohm meter will read it. You should check it before you install it and when you are done. The sensor that I linked will tell you if it gets damaged while installing it. You keep it installed on the leads during the whole installation of the mat.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080KWIY8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.warmyourfloor.com/nuhea...o4jNJVecmzyA_oYhQG8AjMUgb2D6sGcRoCtU0QAvD_BwE
 
Last edited:
M

mike93lx

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Dec 9, 2013
Messages
37,883
Location
Richmond, VA
Terry D said:
I have been involved in many of these heated floor installs. Here is what you need. Works off a 9 volt battery. The mats leads should have a label from the factory with the correct resistance. Just a regular ohm meter will read it. You should check it before you install it and when you are done. The sensor that I linked will tell you if it gets damaged while installing it. You keep it installed on the leads during the whole installation of the mat.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080KWIY8/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Click to expand...

That may be sufficient, but certainly doesn't meet at least Schluter's requirements for warranty
 
T

Terry D

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 25, 2015
Messages
2,202
Location
St. Louis, MO.
mike93lx said:
That may be sufficient, but certainly doesn't meet at least Schluter's requirements for warranty
Click to expand...

My supply house deals in NUheat, that is what they recommend and even send one with the mat. The main thing is you read the resistance before and after the install. That sensor will tell you if something happens during the install. I have never personally dealt with a mat that I had to meg, But I guess all manufactures are different
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
R

rlitman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,657
Location
Long Island
Terry D said:
My supply house deals in NUheat, that is what they recommend and even send one with the mat. The main thing is you read the resistance before and after the install. That sensor will tell you if something happens during the install. I have never personally dealt with a mat that I had to meg, But I guess all manufactures are different
Click to expand...

I have to disagree here. Take a razor and slit through the insulation until you can see the bare wire. Now check the resistance. It will not have changed, yet once you bury that wire under a conductive material (the thinset), the electrons will eventually find a way out.

The loudmouth is certainly a good idea, but it is not a "final word" sort of test. A megger is.

At work, I use a $40 Chinese digital megger. 2500V, 20 giga-ohms. It works just fine. There's no need to spend much more than that. And there is ABSOLUTELY no need to test with AC. EVER.

Ideally, you want to look at your megger readings after 1 minute, and again after 30 minutes, to calculate the polarization index of the insulation. However, unless you're talking about miles of old wire with very thin (lacquer) insulation, you may find that the insulation resistance is off scale anyway. I've tested a few transformers like this, and since they've been kept clean, I was never able to get a useful PI reading.
 
T

Terry D

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 25, 2015
Messages
2,202
Location
St. Louis, MO.
rlitman said:
I have to disagree here. Take a razor and slit through the insulation until you can see the bare wire. Now check the resistance. It will not have changed, yet once you bury that wire under a conductive material (the thinset), the electrons will eventually find a way out.

The loudmouth is certainly a good idea, but it is not a "final word" sort of test. A megger is.

At work, I use a $40 Chinese digital megger. 2500V, 20 giga-ohms. It works just fine. There's no need to spend much more than that. And there is ABSOLUTELY no need to test with AC. EVER.

Ideally, you want to look at your megger readings after 1 minute, and again after 30 minutes, to calculate the polarization index of the insulation. However, unless you're talking about miles of old wire with very thin (lacquer) insulation, you may find that the insulation resistance is off scale anyway. I've tested a few transformers like this, and since they've been kept clean, I was never able to get a useful PI reading.
Click to expand...

We are talking about a heated floor mat here, not transformers or motors. The OP is actually talking about a heated cable, I have been talking about a mat. That might be the difference. The manufacturer of the mats that I have been involved with did not spec out to use a megger, just the way I described. If the op's heated floor manufacturer recommends using a megger, then I would use a megger. The loud mouth doesn't read resistance, just opens, shorts and grounds
 
Last edited:
W

wyliesdiesels

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 14, 2012
Messages
20,071
Location
Modesto, CA
Terry D said:
I have been involved in many of these heated floor installs. Here is what you need. Works off a 9 volt battery. The mats leads should have a label from the factory with the correct resistance. Just a regular ohm meter will read it. You should check it before you install it and when you are done. The sensor that I linked will tell you if it gets damaged while installing it. You keep it installed on the leads during the whole installation of the mat.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080KWIY8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.warmyourfloor.com/nuhea...o4jNJVecmzyA_oYhQG8AjMUgb2D6sGcRoCtU0QAvD_BwE
Click to expand...

Ive used the loud mouths before
 
R

rlitman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 18, 2010
Messages
24,657
Location
Long Island
Mtl-Marc said:
Since you're asking. A megger is very usefull for testing the insulation on RF transmission lines.
Click to expand...

It's useful for a lot of things, and in the wrong hands, is particularly useful at destroying electronics.

Terry D said:
That is why they are required to be GFCI protected
Click to expand...

That's nice after the fact, but still doesn't fix the warranty issue, and more importantly, doesn't solve the issue of a bad install.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom