For anybody who’s confused, a “Megger” is basically an instrument for testing insulation.
They were first made by a British company called Evershed and Vignoles, and “Megger” was their trademark for insulation testers.
Much the same way as “Hoover” became a generic term for vacuum cleaners, or “Allen Key” became the term for hex keys, “Megger” became the term for insulation testers.
The original ones date back to the Victorian era, and are very grand things in varnished wooden cases. Later ones became smaller, and used more modern materials, but you still had to wind the handle to generate the voltage needed.
Here’s an early 20th century one.
These Meggers were used well into the 1970’s as they were so reliable.
So strong was the brand name, that the company changed it’s name simply to “Megger”. They still exist. and they still make insulation testers.
However, the majority of the companies output consists of specialised meters and test equipment for power generation or industrial use.
All but the cheapest meters are manufactured in the U.K, they are very good quality, and the company are good about servicing / repair if needed.
These “Multi Function Testers” are common among Electricians in the U.K. (yes, along with Fluke etc) but I find these very easy to use. They incorporate insulation testers,
And I agree with you about the leads.