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Measuring Zs with all circuits connected or just the circuit being tested.

On a no trip Zs test, my Alphatek has always produced a higher reading on a non-RCD circuit than the regular test.

I would certainly always put the higher of any reading produced by test equipment.

Wouldn't anyone?
 
That's probably true, but given two different measurement of a 'safety critical' quantity, I think a cautious person would probably feel inclined to go with the 'worse' one, wouldn't they?
No. Logic tells us that 2 wire high current testing is always the better measurement to utilise. Low current loop testing is simply a compromise due to the use of residual current devices.
 
No. Logic tells us that 2 wire high current testing is always the better measurement to utilise. Low current loop testing is simply a compromise due to the use of residual current devices.
As I said, I do not dispute the fact that such is probably true BUT, as I also said, I think many (most?) people would be uncomfortable using the 'better' of two measurement results (both obtained using reputable and calibrated equipment) - particularly if the 'worse' of the two results were non-compliant with relevant regulations.
 
As I said, I do not dispute the fact that such is probably true BUT, as I also said, I think many (most?) people would be uncomfortable using the 'better' of two measurement results (both obtained using reputable and calibrated equipment) - particularly if the 'worse' of the two results were non-compliant with relevant regulations.
Well then I would dispute their logic. I wouldn't even entertain a low trip setting on non-RCD protected wiring.
 
Well then I would dispute their logic. I wouldn't even entertain a low trip setting on non-RCD protected wiring.
If one doesn't believe that a particular mode of testing of a piece of test equipment gives accurate results (even if the manufacturers claims it does), then I don't think one should employ that testing mode.

However, IF one does employ that mode, and gets a result, then It becomes rather iffy to 'ignore' the result in favour of a 'better' result using a different mode of testing which one believes to be 'more accurate'.
 
If one doesn't believe that a particular mode of testing of a piece of test equipment gives accurate results (even if the manufacturers claims it does), then I don't think one should employ that testing mode.

However, IF one does employ that mode, and gets a result, then It becomes rather iffy to 'ignore' the result in favour of a 'better' result using a different mode of testing which one believes to be 'more accurate'.
It doesn't, because even the instrument manufacturers will state unequivocally that high current loop testing is the preferred means where possible.
 
It doesn't, because even the instrument manufacturers will state unequivocally that high current loop testing is the preferred means where possible.
I don't doubt that they do. However, they presumably will also make claims about the accuracy of 'no trip' measurements made with their equipment - so if such a test produces a result which, at the limit of the claimed accuracy, would still be 'non-compliant', then it would be hard to see how one could justify 'dismissing' that result, wouldn't it ?
 
I don't doubt that they do. However, they presumably will also make claims about the accuracy of 'no trip' measurements made with their equipment - so if such a test produces a result which, at the limit of the claimed accuracy, would still be 'non-compliant', then it would be hard to see how one could justify 'dismissing' that result, wouldn't it ?
You may be surprised to learn that they claim nowhere near the measurement accuracy which many seem to assume. They are more indicative.
 
You may be surprised to learn that they claim nowhere near the measurement accuracy which many seem to assume. They are more indicative.
I suppose that depends upon what you think would surprise me (and the 'many others'). My fluke 1652 only offers 'no trip' tests, and the claimed accuracy (for loop impedances up to 20 Ω) is:
1740877389591.png

Other members of the 165x family do offer both 'no trip and high current tests, with this accuracy claim (again for loop impedances up to 20 Ω):
1740877676296.png


I don't know whether ay of that surprises you, but none of it surprises me - and the difference between accuracy of #no trip' and 'high current'tests doesn't seem to be as massive as you seem to be suggesting.
 
My fluke 1652 only offers 'no trip' tests,
:?: I thought yours was a 1652b, the same as mine.

1740913020058.png


- and the difference between accuracy of #no trip' and 'high current'tests doesn't seem to be as massive as you seem to be suggesting.
As I replied to Securespark, that's because it is a Fluke which, I believe, is better than others and the one with the famous 'Hoover type name' being, I believe, particularly bad at it.
 
:?: I thought yours was a 1652b, the same as mine.
I think we've been through this before. Mine is just called "1652" (no "b"), but it seems that it is all-but identical to yourd. In particular, it has just one loop impedance option on the 'trst selector switch' ("Z|") and the manual contains the same statement as trhat which you've just posted, namely ....
1740919049761.png

However, if one uses that option 'naturally'(with the test leads in the 'correct' sockets), per the instructions which follow, it will measure L-N loop impedance, which will only be the same as Zs in a TN-C-S installation and, even then, only for a final circuit wired in 1 mm² T+E (since CSAs of N and CPC differ with any other size of T+E). I presume that it is 'pressing the buttons' to select L-N (rather than L-E) loop impedance is what results in the high-current mode being selected?

However, you've got me thinking (about something I've never previously considered!), and maybe this is what you were implying ... if I swapped the L and E lead connections to the meter, would it then do high-current L-E loop impedance measurement? Is that what you were implying?

As I replied to Securespark, that's because it is a Fluke which, I believe, is better than others and the one with the famous 'Hoover type name' being, I believe, particularly bad at it.
Yes, I realised that. What I'm not certain of is whether your 'belief' is actually correct (I've certainly heard others suggesting that it may be).

KInd Regards, John
 
However, you've got me thinking (about something I've never previously considered!), and maybe this is what you were implying ... if I swapped the L and E lead connections to the meter, would it then do high-current L-E loop impedance measurement? Is that what you were implying?
Not exactly, they call it a two-wire loop measurement.

1740920745165.png


Then with L & N leads connected to the meter (no E lead), you connect L lead to L and N lead to the Earth.
 
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Not exactly, they call it a two-wire loop measurement.
I know they do, but (as you illustrate) they then go on to tell one to 'select L-N'.
Then with L & N leads connected to the meter (no E lead), you connect L lead to L and N lead to the Earth.
That's what I suggested, isn't it? However, what surprises me (and, I suppose, the reason I'd never thought about this before), is that they do not anywhere suggest that (with L-N 'selected') one can reverse the leads to get a high current L-E loop impedance measurement.

Kind Regards, John
 
I know they do, but (as you illustrate) they then go on to tell one to 'select L-N'.
Yes, because that is the two connections that do the test.
See the highlighted part in my post 26.

That's what I suggested, isn't it?
No, you said your meter couldn't do it.

However, what surprises me (and, I suppose, the reason I'd never thought about this before), is that they do not anywhere suggest that (with L-N 'selected') one can reverse the leads to get a high current L-E loop impedance measurement.
You don't reverse the leads; you just connect N to Earth. The meter doesn't know.


Anyway - that's how it's done. There is no point arguing about it
 

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