confused:
- Thread starter k billa
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al hildenbrand
Senior Member
- Location
- Minnesota
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- Electrical Contractor, Electrical Consultant, Electrical Engineer
The voltage.
A continuity test applies the battery voltage to the circuit, any where from 1.5 to 9 volts.
A megger applies hundreds and sometimes over a thousand volts to the circuit.
A continuity test applies the battery voltage to the circuit, any where from 1.5 to 9 volts.
A megger applies hundreds and sometimes over a thousand volts to the circuit.
electricalperson
Senior Member
- Location
- massachusetts
a megger will tell you if the insulation is bad causing intermittant problems such as breaker tripping and a continuity tester will just tell you if there is no resistance between the 2connections such as checking a single pole switch
electricalperson
Senior Member
- Location
- massachusetts
also what he said. and dont grab the leads while using a megger :grin:al hildenbrand said:
brian john
Senior Member
- Location
- Kilmarnock, Va
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- Retired after 52 years in the trade.
A continuity tester should be utilized to located and isolate shorts in wiring and never used to to test cables or any distribution equipment for possible shorts.
A megger can be used for predictive maintenance if utilized when equipment is new to establish a base line, then periodically for tracking equipment insulation values at a point based upon company standards or published standards the equipment can be slated for replacement prior to failure (in theory).
A megger will show a short from carbon in a fault distribution equipment a continuity tester won't unless the equipment is so trashed it is visibly obvious.
In the picture below a continuity tester would show no fault the megger shows issues.
Standard school paper, pencil lead (carbon), 1000 VDC test voltage
A megger can be used for predictive maintenance if utilized when equipment is new to establish a base line, then periodically for tracking equipment insulation values at a point based upon company standards or published standards the equipment can be slated for replacement prior to failure (in theory).
A megger will show a short from carbon in a fault distribution equipment a continuity tester won't unless the equipment is so trashed it is visibly obvious.
In the picture below a continuity tester would show no fault the megger shows issues.
Standard school paper, pencil lead (carbon), 1000 VDC test voltage
petersonra
Senior Member
- Location
- Northern illinois
- Occupation
- Semi-retired engineer
k billa said:
Both are useful for finding shorts. A megger is useful for finding damaged insulation that is not to the level of a short yet.
Continuity meters use a very low voltage for their tests - something like 1 to 3 volts.
Meggers use a much higher voltage 500V or more.
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