A lot can change with the test and measurement landscape in a short period of time, as Metrel’s Mark Johnson can testify. Here he shares his thoughts after returning to the industry following a near two year break.
Returning to the test and measurement sector after a break of 18 months has been a most illuminating experience.
In that time it would appear that most/all of the major manufacturers have introduced the ability to update their premium instrument’s firmware in the field rather than by specialists at calibration time, having told everyone it was impossible for many years. To its continued credit, Metrel remains one of the only companies to offer updating for all testers – not just the most expensive.
Another shift has seen more manufacturers including help screens, which are now being built into top-end testers. It’s the same story with an SPD test, which Metrel machines have incorporated for 20 years.
Field firmware updating allows manufacturers to respond to changes in the Regulations or introduce new tests should the need arise, giving the customer better value from the investment in a test machine.
Adapter and overcome
A perfect example was the introduction of EVSE testing. Metrel updated its tester firmware free of charge to include an EVSE test protocol for those testers that had the hardware capability.
At the same time an adapter was introduced which could test the functionality of the charger and gave access to the electrical supply system for testing at a cost in the region. The adapter’s cost-effectiveness was ground-breaking at a time when some other companies were expecting end users to pay premium sums for a new tester with the same functionality.
At Metrel we see these types of adapters as the future. At the end of the day, if your tester is working well why spend more for another screen, processor, plastics etc. when you can use it as the interface and save your results to the memory?
The latest update to the MI3152 multi-function tester allows the unit, with the addition of an adapter, to transform itself into a precision high current earth loop impedance tester, operating up to 300 A.
Earth resistivity testing is not an everyday activity for most contractors, so it makes sense that they might not want to pay for the functionality. But if you need to measure specific earth resistance for the design of a grounding system, it is reassuring to know you just need to buy a Ro-adapter rather than purchase another complete test set.
More commonly, ring final circuit testing can be made quicker and transformed into a one-man job using Metrel’s unique ring continuity adapter (A2214). Firmware upgrades are available for the MI 3100, MI 3125 adding to their longevity, as well as the touch-screen MI 3152 and MI 3155.
Common themes
Another change is that domestic 3-phase supplies have become more common. To facilitate their testing, the 3-phase active switch (A1507) is an adapter that automates testing, making it faster and keeping you safe.
You make the connections to the installation under test once. The switch is then controlled by either of our touch-screen testers, making and breaking connections as required and running through a suite of measurements – all under your expert supervision from a safe distance.
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