Megger hazards

[HaskinsElectric]

Here's a link to the introductory document on meggers:
http://www.biddlemegger.com/biddle/A Stitch In Time.pdf

Wow, that's an awesome guide, I'm in the process of reading it. Thanks!

 

[electricalperson]

i got the instruction bookfor megger insulation testers. it was printed in 1954 and its pretty much the same as a stitch in time. the avo website sells printed copies of a stitch in time for 7 dollars:grin:

 

[Lxnxjxhx]

Megger hazards

Supposedly 1 joule (1 watt-second) of energy is enough to kill. The current probably has to go through the chest.

 

[76nemo]

I do residential and light commercial, I don't own a megger. What are the circumstances where you would use one? I'm guessing that when you pull feeder conductors through conduit you megger as a "sanity check" to make sure you didn't gouge the insulation during the pull? Better to find out before you throw the switch and find out the hard way?

How do you hook it up? Again I'm guessing one lead to a conductor and another to the conduit? How does the megger indicate that a wire's insulation has been damaged? Will it tell you how many feet down the wire the damage is at?

Inquiring minds...

I would of answered that earlier, but didn't think you were serious. Especially after Marc didn't jump on it! You've never used one? You've never had a use for one?

 

[76nemo]

i got the instruction bookfor megger insulation testers. it was printed in 1954 and its pretty much the same as a stitch in time. the avo website sells printed copies of a stitch in time for 7 dollars:grin:

You can also download it for free in PDF straight from Megger's site.

 

[HaskinsElectric]

I would of answered that earlier, but didn't think you were serious. Especially after Marc didn't jump on it! You've never used one? You've never had a use for one?

30 years ago I worked at a shop that did industrial motor controls and I was on hand once or twice when they were being used, but I was a kid and was busy trying learn how to bend pipe.

Since then I discovered the joys of #14 Romex and backstabbing Chinese receptacles and I never had a need for a megger. I'm doing more commercial these days and I should probably add this to my skill set.

Whoop! Whoop!

 

[steveng]

zog

zog

glad to hear you were in my navy. lol roosevelt cva-42 74 -76 6th fleet

thanks for the tips on my new fluke1587

 

[Energy-Miser]

I don't have one, but the ones they sell at the Big Orange & Nig Blue stores are worthless. A buddy has one, and it's accuracy is about +/- 10,000,000%.

I've seen Hiltis (PD30s) used a lot on job sites... so maybe it's a good one?

Thanks Mr. Sparky. I am looking to buy one of these, it helps me to know to be on the look out for the inaccurate ones.

 

[zog]

glad to hear you were in my navy. lol roosevelt cva-42 74 -76 6th fleet

thanks for the tips on my new fluke1587

Ahh, you were on a big target SSN-701

 

[MarkWhite]

I heard once that one of the biggest consumers of Meggar type equipment were police forces of third world countries.By placing the clamps of one of these devices on some of the more sensitive areas of the body you can turn a usefull piece of diagnostic equipment into a vey portable torture device.

I always wondered why they never used them in the James Bond movies.

 

[brian john]

MArk:

Several years ago I read an article on torture, the only difference between the 200 years ago and today is electricity. Other than that thumb screws water torture ect are still in use....

 

[K8MHZ]

The possibility of any current source causing a fatality is dependent on several factors. In a nutshell, what may cause a discomforting shock in one individual in a certain environment can easily kill a different person in a different environment.

Each person has a different impedance to electrical flow. Also, the amount of current flow through the heart that can cause fibrillation is different among people. Kids and the elderly are most susceptible.

I know of a young man that was killed by a 56 volt fault in a bare grounding conductor he was repairing. I have taken hits from 25kV high pots with little more than a scare and some discomfort.

It's volts that jolts, but it's mills that kills.