DVOM Explodes

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K8MHZ

K8MHZ

Senior Member
Location
Michigan. It's a beautiful peninsula, I've looked
Occupation
Electrician
A friend of mine, not an electrician, had a cheapie DVOM and he heard something rattle inside it. He took it apart (he is a ham radio operator, we have a bad habit of fixing our own stuff...) and found nothing loose. Re-assembled and no more rattle. A short time later, pun intended, he was checking for voltage in a residence. He checked the 240 legs ahead of the main and when he did the meter shorted out and exploded, vaporizing the test leads and covering my friend's arm and hand with burnt plastic.

We had a little talk about PPE and a workable minimum for what he pokes around in.

However, the gist of the story is the arc flash hazard present even when doing something as routine as checking for voltage in a house panel.

My friend didn't save the meter for me to look at. If so, I would have had some pics for you. So solly.
 
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whillis

Member
Location
Vancouver, BC
Hope your friend heals well.

CAT III rated meters are the minimum acceptable for branch circuit testing, and most cheapo meters wouldn't meet CAT II. This is one of those cases where you get what you pay for.
 
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dbuckley

Senior Member
Location
Canterbury, New Zealand
Been there, done that. Chepo analogue test meter, on 1000V range, checking (415V) phasing. Meter went bang. Returned it, and the supplier (name and shame - Maplins Electronics) accused me of adjusting the range switch whilst the meter was connected.

Must have been with my third hand...
 
zog

zog

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
Safety FAQ's

Safety FAQ's

The IEC 61010 is the new standard for low voltage ?test, measurement and control equipment?. The IEC 61010 provides much improved protection against over voltage impulse transients (voltage spikes) and is the basis for:

? ANSI/ISA-S82.01-94 (US)
? CAN C22.2 No. 1010.1-92 (CAN)
? EN61010-1:1993 (EUR)

IEC 61010 defines four locations or categories:
CAT I - Protected electronic circuits
CAT II - Receptacle outlet circuit; plug-in loads.
CAT III - Distribution wiring, including ?mains? bus, feeders and branch circuits; permanently installed loads.
CAT IV - ?Origin of installation? Utility level and any outside cable run

The level and energy of voltage impulses is dependent on the location. The closer the location is to the power source, the higher the available fault current, the higher the category.
 
Besoeker

Besoeker

Senior Member
Location
UK
dbuckley said:
Been there, done that. Chepo analogue test meter, on 1000V range, checking (415V) phasing. Meter went bang. Returned it, and the supplier (name and shame - Maplins Electronics) accused me of adjusting the range switch whilst the meter was connected.

Must have been with my third hand...
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Maybe you used a tool....:wink:
 
brian john

brian john

Senior Member
Location
Leesburg, VA
dbuckley said:
Been there, done that. Chepo analogue test meter, on 1000V range, checking (415V) phasing. Meter went bang. Returned it, and the supplier (name and shame - Maplins Electronics) accused me of adjusting the range switch whilst the meter was connected.

Must have been with my third hand...
Click to expand...

Why would you return a meter you used improperly, sort of like 5 finger discount; isn't it?

Every case I have been involved in where meters blew up were due to 4160, one 13.2 (GUY DIED), several cases defective leads (NO PROBES just exposed strands).
 
zog

zog

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
wptski said:
CAT is a rating system but how many manufacturers have any actual proof that they are tested?
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Well I know fluke does, I have seen thier test lab and watched them do these tests, cools stuff actually. I would like to think all the ood manufactures actually do the testing they claim.
 
brian john

brian john

Senior Member
Location
Leesburg, VA
zog said:
Well I know fluke does, I have seen thier test lab and watched them do these tests, cools stuff actually. I would like to think all the ood manufactures actually do the testing they claim.
Click to expand...


If the top manufactures did not test, verify and log test the lawsuits they would lose would be piling up when there is an issue.
 
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wptski

Senior Member
Location
Warren, MI
zog said:
Well I know fluke does, I have seen thier test lab and watched them do these tests, cools stuff actually. I would like to think all the ood manufactures actually do the testing they claim.
Click to expand...
Yes, I could have mentioned that Fluke does test theirs but who knows about the others!:rolleyes:
 
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wptski

Senior Member
Location
Warren, MI
brian john said:
If the top manufactures did not test, verify and log test the lawsuits they would lose would be piling up when there is an issue.
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Sure if a accident actually happens. A rating is in theory only but do they prove out their theory with testing? How much trust do you have in theory only?
 
zog

zog

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
wptski said:
Hey, could you stay on track here? We're talking about CAT ratings here.
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I am on track, the discussion is about believing if a company actually performed the safety testing that the product claims was done, just making a comparision.

I like to believe that a reputable company does actually perform the safety testing they claim (I lived right next to the GM proving grounds and did many projects there, I have seen them doing the testing that why I chose them). Not so reputable companies in other countries, them, I dont have as much faith in.
 
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wptski

Senior Member
Location
Warren, MI
zog said:
I am on track, the discussion is about believing if a company actually performed the safety testing that the product claims was done, just making a comparision.

I like to believe that a reputable company does actually perform the safety testing they claim (I lived right next to the GM proving grounds and did many projects there, I have seen them doing the testing that why I chose them). Not so reputable companies in other countries, them, I dont have as much faith in.
Click to expand...
My point is just because it's CAT rated doesn't really mean unless it's tested!

I live a mile from the GM Tech Center and never did any work there.:grin:
 
zog

zog

Senior Member
Location
Charlotte, NC
wptski said:
My point is just because it's CAT rated doesn't really mean unless it's tested!
Click to expand...

If it is rated, and marked as such, it should have been tested. Not every single one because the process is a destructive test, but the design is. Just like your car wasnt actually crash tested.

wptski said:
I live a mile from the GM Tech Center and never did any work there.:grin:
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Spent almost every saturday on that site for 5 years. Ate at every resturaunt in the area, quenched a thirst after a long day at many of the other places in the area too.
 
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wptski

Senior Member
Location
Warren, MI
zog said:
Spent almost every saturday on that site for 5 years. Ate at every resturaunt in the area, quenched a thirst after a long day at many of the other places in the area too.
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I still don't get it! You were there "only" on Saturdays for five years or you work six days a week on something for five years?:confused:
 
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