Looking for a cheap test kit

[James-]

I have seen some fairly cheap looking kits on ebay over the past year or two but always weary of either them having been pinched or struggling to get money back for a duf tester

 

[Manutd4life]

So what is it you do at the moment? What experience and qualifications have you got that are related to the electrical industry?

I work on the commercial side of things mate. I'm a time served spark straight from school. Been fully qualified for around 8-9 years.

 

[GMES]

Don't discard Mikes offer until you speak to him . He is a well respected member and a good friend, that counts for a lot.
ebay can be very dodgy and you either end up with a stolen tester, or a faulty one.
Look at it this way, if you spent a bit extra and bought the one off Mike and things didn't work out work wise then you could probably still sell it for decent money, maybe even on here.
Speak to him before you make a decision.

 

[Manutd4life]

Don't discard Mikes offer until you speak to him . He is a well respected member and a good friend, that counts for a lot.
ebay can be very dodgy and you either end up with a stolen tester, or a faulty one.
Look at it this way, if you spent a bit extra and bought the one off Mike and things didn't work out work wise then you could probably still sell it for decent money, maybe even on here.
Speak to him before you make a decision.

I have already spoke with "Mike", I am not disregarding anything, all these comments are putting me off from buying one of eBay now. Not all of them are scammers on eBay, surely the payment protection covers you if the item isn't as described. I understand you're just looking out for people not to get scammed. I will be taking my time over this.

 

[chrisg1979]

I bought a Metrel off eBay 3 years ago. The chap selling it was straight as a die. £80 for the meter at the end of auction, £40 to have it calibrated, jobs a good un!

Maybe I was lucky, but there are bargains to be had.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

I have already spoke with "Mike", I am not disregarding anything, all these comments are putting me off from buying one of eBay now. Not all of them are scammers on eBay, surely the payment protection covers you if the item isn't as described. I understand you're just looking out for people not to get scammed. I will be taking my time over this.

well..

i know of at least one.....

 

[Manutd4life]

I'm undecided between the kewtech KT62 and the meggar 1720. Any pro's and cons between the two?

 

[telectrix]

megger all the way. surprised you not bought mike's yet.

 

[Guest77]

Cheers Tel, I have sold it now though bud, had 2 sparks fighting over it in the end, got 400 notes for it as well, not too bad really even though they are 660 plus vat to buy now which works out at 790 quid, I let it go and hope the buyer enjoys it, will last him years.

 

[Manutd4life]

megger all the way. surprised you not bought mike's yet.

Been quite busy with work, was gonna mail him again but no point now. Opportunity missed

 

[shanky887614]

Been quite busy with work, was gonna mail him again but no point now. Opportunity missed

I was looking at the kewtech one in screwfix earlier 350 or so.

not bad for an mft

 

[Guest77]

I was looking at the kewtech one in screwfix earlier 350 or so.

not bad for an mft

There are 1552s and 1553s on ebay for 250-285 plus delivery on top of course available now, so 300-325 ish all in, I would suggest you look no farther than the 1500 series, I have owned most MFTs and the 1500 series IMHO is the best range of MFTs on the market by a million miles, nothing else comes close in my opinion.

 

[Manutd4life]

There are 1552s and 1553s on ebay for 250-285 plus delivery on top of course available now, so 300-325 ish all in, I would suggest you look no farther than the 1500 series, I have owned most MFTs and the 1500 series IMHO is the best range of MFTs on the market by a million miles, nothing else comes close in my opinion.

Is that the best for around my price range or your opinion against the other meggar ones, I.e the 1700 range.

 

[Guest77]

Is that the best for around my price range or your opinion against the other meggar ones, I.e the 1700 range.

The best on the market in my view, even better than the 1700 series, hence the reason I just sold mine lol

 

[Manutd4life]

The best on the market in my view, even better than the 1700 series, hence the reason I just sold mine lol

Thanks, ill have a look at them and see if I can find a decent one.

 

[Guest77]

I was looking at the kewtech one in screwfix earlier 350 or so.

not bad for an mft

Hope I don't offend anyone lol, that tester is a good entry level piece of equipment, and suitible for the Domestic electrician who does the odd job here and there, when you start testing jobs weekly and test all types of work a better model would be my advice, a Meggar or fluke or something like these more suitible for the professional IMO, hard hat on and I am in the bunker.

 

[shanky887614]

Hope I don't offend anyone lol, that tester is a good entry level piece of equipment, and suitible for the Domestic electrician who does the odd job here and there, when you start testing jobs weekly and test all types of work a better model would be my advice, a Meggar or fluke or something like these more suitible for the professional IMO, hard hat on and I am in the bunker.

tin hat on I dont need one yet, or voltage indicator.

flick/banh test for the win XD

jk of course.

ill get one as soon as im put in for am2 then ill get 1500 series. the other features are gimicks

I have a deep distrust of technology I keep multiple redundant backups of data etc

 

[HappyHippyDad]

There are 1552s and 1553s on ebay for 250-285 plus delivery on top of course available now, so 300-325 ish all in, I would suggest you look no farther than the 1500 series, I have owned most MFTs and the 1500 series IMHO is the best range of MFTs on the market by a million miles, nothing else comes close in my opinion.

Why is that Mike? What makes them so much better? Genuine question as I have a metrel MI3000 which I like but that doesn't really mean anything as I have never used anything else.

 

[Manutd4life]

Does the 1500 series have the rcd anti trip on them?

 

[Guest77]

Easy to use Steve, accurate, almost unbreakable, light weight, the leads are universal unlike the 1700 series which has horrible leads in my view, the battery life is incredible as well, the cases the tester is sold with is again almost unbreakable, it is also a lovely case to look at and to use with nice clips on the case which can pop off and be replaced if required. The strap which comes with the tester is also very user friendly and unlike some testers which have buckles every where this is simple well thought out and the main factor of the tester is the reliability, the function buttons on the 1500 series are so simple to use a complete novice could understand it unlike IMO the 1700 series which can be quite difficult to master when first purchased. I regulary used to test my MFT with a check box and it never lost it's accuracy, the 1700 series I owned did and I had to recently have it calibrated, also the loop test facility on the 1700 series is IMO unreliable, it never gives the same reading twice even on the same circuit, the 1500 series was always my personal favorite, thats why I now own another

 

[Guest77]

Does the 1500 series have the rcd anti trip on them?

yes of course, also to add the 1553 has blue tooth enablility unlike the 1552, but both are superb bits of test equipment.

 

[moospark]

1553 is a design classic, just is. Up there with the Zippo lighter, AK 47, Air cooled V.W camper, Honda C90, and 1963 Fender Precision, (Only one I haven't owned is the AK 47, but it seems to have a sizeable fanbase).

 

[telectrix]

you missed out the jeep cherokee.

 

[moospark]

you missed out the jeep cherokee.

I stand corrected.

 

[trev]

and 1963 Fender Precision,

Have to disagree there, Fender basses are horrible ugly things imho. The bodies are all too big and clunky.
Not bad to play but like a very plain ex gf, not much to look at

 

[Manutd4life]

Do megger 1500 series leads fit into kewtech accessories? Or do megger have their own range, if they do, I can't find them.

 

[shanky887614]

Do megger 1500 series leads fit into kewtech accessories? Or do megger have their own range, if they do, I can't find them.

kewtech leads fit.

standard leads I think, check on test-meter the forum sponsor they will have them

 

[Mike Blair]

im in a pickle of picking between the mft 1553 or the 1730 :s

 

[shanky887614]

im in a pickle of picking between the mft 1553 or the 1730 :s

will you use the bluetooth features etc? if not get the 1553.

to me it seems an added cost for a gimmick that most people will never use

 

[Mike Blair]

it would be nice to simply integrate tests to my phone then to my pc later instead of noting them down but thats just me trying to be lazy haha if you remove the bluetooth feature is there much difference at all?