Voltage testers 12/400v Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[collectors]

Was looking at a voltage tester that was 12/400v. Now they used to be 12/415v. Is this meant to be the new voltage we was going to get about 10 years ago + & never arrived. My place is at 244v at the moment.
What the question is? Are these 400v testers ok on 415v test. Thanks

[Mr White]

Since no one on this forum make such devices as you are enquiring about, it would be best if you were to ask the manufacturer of the device you intend to purchase, or buy a decent multi meter.
If one of us / someone on any forum said it would be ok, and it wasn't.............

[collectors]

Hi, i assumed there might be some other electricians on the forum. But i got in touch with two of the manufacturers that make these testers & both had a similar reply.
"If its rated to 400v we don’t recommend they use it with a 415v system"
Which makes you wonder why they produce a 400v for sale in the UK as we are not yet running at 230/400 in the uk.

[Mr White]

Sorry, I am trying to understand why you want someone who does not make a specific item, there for does not know anything about it (Voltage tester in this case) to tell you it is ok to use.

[collectors]

Not to worry. I thought as we have a 10% leeway on voltages supplied in the UK i wasn't sure if instruments may have the same inbuilt tolerances for safety.

[ericmark]

There is a difference between nominal voltage and actual voltage, I think our peak voltage is around 325 volt for a 230 volt AC system, and most equipment is designed to take 500 volt which is the voltage we use to test the insulation on our 230 volt supplies.

As a boy I remember the signs danger 250 volt or 440 volt, I don't remember 440 volt, it was 415 when I started, and today it is 400 volt.

Yes at the incomer it can be 216.2 to 253 i.e. 230 volt -6%/+10% so really 234 volt +/- 8% so a tester with a nominal voltage of 230 volt should work 216.2 to 253.

As to what the proving unit produces most state 240 volt, and the testers I have seen may say 230 volt but the spec says "CAT IV 600 V, Cat III 690 V safety rating Fluke’s family of Two-Pole Voltage testers comply with both regulation HSE GS 38 (tip caps) and IEC EN 61243-3: 2010." what do you think 600 V means?

I have questioned the use of battery less voltage testers and proving units, the tester should have no battery or switch, so can't in error be switched off, and the tester is tested, then the item is tested then the tester is tested again.

But the proving unit I had produced 250 volt, my question was why, I want to know if the tester will detect any voltage which would be dangerous, so if over 50 volt AC I want to know, so lighting all neons or LED's from 6 to 400 volt is no good if at 50 volt non light.

So Kewtech Kewprove 3 Proving Unit say Output voltage: 180V into 6.8KΩ, 720V - 820V into 10MΩ so one would hope a Kewtech voltage tester can take 820 volt?

So all voltage testers will have a proving unit which is designed to be used with it, so look at the spec of the proving unit, and then you will know what voltage the tester can stand.

Put your self in the position of the person on the phone at the manufacturers help line, do you really think you are talking to the designer, if the spec says 230 volt they are reading the spec same as you.

So clearly you should not be using a 400 volt tester in a mine or quarry with a 550 volt supply, but other than mines or quarries not seen supply other than 400 volt for years.