Megger MFT 1730 Calibration Fail

[odawire]

Hi, just got a bit of a shock this morning, turns out my Megger has failed calibration and needs to go back to Megger for a "fixed price" repair charge of £426.24 (inc VAT) and that's before it gets re calibrated!!
I had a feeling that it might still be in warranty but after checking found out it had just passed, 2 months.

I don't expect anything to last forever without some maintenance but for that kind of money I would expect a decent warranty on the work (2 years seems fair to me) but no, 3 months!

I cant see what the point of buying decent test equipment is at these kind of costs, I can buy a half decent one new for that money which is what I'm probably gonna do and try and repair the Megger myself.

I don't think ill ever bother buying what I thought was a decent one again.

Can anyone point me in the direction of any info on the web that might assist me, I'm assuming it might need a new circuit board, and what are the chances it might just be a dry joint or something like that?

I haven't had any problems with the functioning of the meter.

The calibration house has told me "The unit failed calibration on impedance tests, low on 1R" if that helps.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Stevesplatto]

Isnt it a year guarantee on a Megger? Try speaking to them direct. They may well give you some leeway.
Steve

 

[Former Sponsor TM]

A one year warranty is provided as standard with the MFT's, although this is extended to three years if the product is registered on Megger's UK website and was purchased from an authorised UK distributor.

 

[telectrix]

try and google a firm called the calibration centre, in stafford. they do repairs with calibration included. a lot cheaper than megger. phone them. afaik, they give you a cost before proceeding with a repair.

 

[Leesparkykent]

£426.24 is outrageous.

 

[Andy78]

I've not heard many good things about this top of the range model to be honest.

 

[odawire]

Yes I have spoken to Megger, they did offer a cheaper price (just knocking off the calibration centres mark-up, which I don't actually begrudge them). They also confirmed the 90 warranty; its three years from new. I think I might have gone ahead if they offered a decent warranty. I will try the calibration centre. Thanks

 

[odawire]

Has anyone tried the Martindale ET400?

 

[timbobelfast]

What did it fail calibration on, continuity??
Sounds like a racket to me with those quoted prices!

 

[AndrewMgan1976]

£426.24 is outrageous.

Almost cheaper to buy a brand new tester

 

[Andy78]

Just outside the warranty you say ? Food for thought.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/mar/25/consumernews.howtocomplain

 

[Leesparkykent]

Almost cheaper to buy a brand new tester

Dilog 9083P 17th Edition Multifunction Tester
yeah this one is £390 all in. I know it's not going to be on par with the megger but still.....

 

[Darkwood]

Your covered by the consumer rights act 1979... this goes beyond any warranty and any item purchased must give a reasonable service life as expected of such equipment, if it had just expired through its warranty then you are still covered by this act, I had a washing replaced for free 2 yrs after its warranty ran out, this is why you should never buy extended warranty as you are already protected.

 

[odawire]

Yes, good points on the consumer rights act, I am in the process of consumer dispute with Vodafone over this exact point, so I will look into it, would be helpful if I knew exactly what has failed, gonna email the calibration company for a more thorough explanation and write a letter, mean time I might give that Dialog a go.

 

[Sarmajor]

I had a meter mft1725 fail while working in Fiji. Managed to borrow another meter to get finished. Upon my return to NZ I contacted the NZ agents. Sent the unit to them and they looked at it. Ended up that they replaced the unit no charge to me at all.
We have a similar piece of consumer legislation here in NZ that makes warranties and extended warranties a waste of time. Basically if it is expensive then it had better last for a reasonable length of time repeated to other similar items.

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

never know you might be able to sell it on as faulty and someone could repair it
(guessing more find another one faulty and Mix and match the two)

what companies do with laptops (how i fixed mine arty:even managed to upgrade it)
my motherboard or CPU died (hard to check them without another CPU/Mobo around)
so brought a 2nd hand one (upgraded version of mine) put in my Screen/HDD/Ram and it worked ..Whooooooo

 

[Ocean Warrior]

I am in the market for a multifunction tester. I had heard that Megger was a good brand but that you are paying for the label. Is Fluke better? I am yet to do my 17th Edition course and Part P and so I was hoping to get some good advice on what to buy and from where and what to avoid?

 

[davesparks]

Personally I do like meggar equipment as I find it to be the most user friendly.
If I have to replace my current tester I'll probably go with a meggar.

And for reference Part P is just a document so there's not realy much to 'do' other than download it for free.

 

[Midwest]

I am in the market for a multifunction tester. I had heard that Megger was a good brand but that you are paying for the label. Is Fluke better? I am yet to do my 17th Edition course and Part P and so I was hoping to get some good advice on what to buy and from where and what to avoid?

Are you going to do a C&G Inspection & Testing course? Might be worth waiting until after the course and make you're mind up then.

 

[DuaneMHunt1976]

It might be good and that way he can use the test instrument on the course and the tutor should help to learn to use that test meter.
I know mine at a FE but I didn't take him up on it, I wished I had tho it always helps

 

[shanky887614]

Your covered by the consumer rights act 1979... this goes beyond any warranty and any item purchased must give a reasonable service life as expected of such equipment, if it had just expired through its warranty then you are still covered by this act, I had a washing replaced for free 2 yrs after its warranty ran out, this is why you should never buy extended warranty as you are already protected.

i did a similar thing, a lot of people don't know there rights.


ive had issues with firms delivering the wrong goods before now and it went as far as having to show them i meant buissness by quoting different rights to them and after a certain time passed and they charged me for it so i ended up called my bank and requesting a chargeback and withdraw my concent for that firm to request money from my bank.

 

[Darkwood]

You just need to follow a series of steps then your good for a full refund or replacement but key to your argument is an independent report by an engineer or registered specialist in the equipment what the issue is and that is not related to mis-use or damage I.E. software or product failure.

 

[odawire]

UPDATE
Just let you know what happened, I spoke to Megger and in the end the guy I was talking to said he would have a look at it if I covered the postage because he used to repair them. I sent it off and he called me couple of days after and told me he opened it up and there was a loose connection to one of the circuit boards inside that he cleaned and plugged back in and it seemed to be working fine.
Now have it back calibrated and working fine. They also updated the software, repaired the carry box latches, replaced the screen which was a bit scratched and threw in a new strap.

So after looking at £500 im pretty happy, The calibration did cost a bit more than other places £115 (including carriage) but I think they will probably get it every year off me from now on.

 

[Leesparkykent]

UPDATE
Just let you know what happened, I spoke to Megger and in the end the guy I was talking to said he would have a look at it if I covered the postage because he used to repair them. I sent it off and he called me couple of days after and told me he opened it up and there was a loose connection to one of the circuit boards inside that he cleaned and plugged back in and it seemed to be working fine.
Now have it back calibrated and working fine. They also updated the software, repaired the carry box latches, replaced the screen which was a bit scratched and threw in a new strap.

So after looking at £500 im pretty happy, The calibration did cost a bit more than other places £115 (including carriage) but I think they will probably get it every year off me from now on.

result!