If your job entails testing the integrity of the insulation, then you’re probably someone who needs to use an insulation resistance tester on a frequent basis. If you don’t have one and are looking to change that, you’ll find that there’s a wide range of models available to pick from. But how do you pick the best insulation tester for the task? Well, just like when buying any testing instrument, there are a couple of important factors to consider.
First and foremost, you should consider its reliability. While that’s extremely difficult to do, the best way to go about it is to buy from a reputable brand, such as Fluke, Kyoritsu, Amprobe, and Mastech. Some of the testers from Kyoritsu, Fluke, Amprobe, and Mastech can do more than test for insulation – they can test for continuity, loop, and RCD. Depending on your specific needs, you may want a multimeter rather than just an insulation tester.
Next, you have to consider the tester’s voltage. In order to pick a tester that has enough output test voltage, you should write down the nominal voltage of the equipment you want to test. The higher the nominal voltage of the equipment, the more test voltage you’ll need from the tester. Furthermore, you need to consider the number of tests you’ll perform. If you’re performing a fair amount of them, you’ll need a tester with better overall quality and durability, as well as one that has convenience features.
Moreover, you’ll have to consider the environment in which the tests are going to take place. That will help you select the important features, and as aforementioned, it will help you decide whether you need an instrument to test for more than just insulation. A multimeter can be extremely convenient to carry around instead of carrying around multiple instruments.
Lastly, you have to consider your experience level. An insulation tester is only as good as the experience level and knowledge of the operator. If you’re inexperienced, look for a device that’s simple and has limited functions. However, you can also get a medium- to high-end model and go through the manufacturer’s manual and basic texts to get a better idea of the functionality of the tester. As long as you do some on-the-job training for safe and proper use of the tester, and as long as the tester meeds the application’s needs, you shouldn’t have a hard time using it.