Wandering lead for domestic testing

[ringer]

Would you recommend buying a ready-made reel such as the ETL30 or should I get some green-sleeved single? If so, what csa should it be, can you buy a 30m reel of single, or is 50m a better length? And would the single come on a suitable/usable reel?

 

[rocker]

Just get a reel of single. It doesn't matter what CSA it is as it should not be carrying any amperage, so you may as well just go for 1mm.

If you want a 'proper' reel you can gut a cheapo extension lead and put your single in there.

 

[UNG]

Always found Tri Rated singles best for making up wander leads

 

[topquark]

Yep, a couple of fixed lengths of singles and measure the resistance of them and note it on the cable, job done!

 

[Sparky Ninja]

I had a reel. Loved it. My best tool.

Then my dad nicked it and i refuse to buy another. So now i have a use for all the drums of singles in my garage.


As long as you zero it, it's the same thing.

 

[UNG]

Yep, a couple of fixed lengths of singles and measure the resistance of them and note it on the cable, job done!

Why not null / zero the meter with the wander lead connected saves time subtracting figures as the reading on the meter will be the one to go on the cert

 

[topquark]

Why not null / zero the meter with the wander lead connected saves time subtracting figures as the reading on the meter will be the one to go on the cert

I've had trouble with kewtech and fluke meters where the auto null option doesn't work reliably (have to admit my megger seems fine though). So just down to personal choice

 

[cegsdj]

why bother with a wander lead as on the test sheets you can put the r1 +r2 results also alot quicker !!

 

[abbi normal]

got mine from a boot sale ...perfect condition ..... asked the woman selling it ... "what is that thing " ... dunno she said ... found it in her husbands van .... how much asks I .... dunno .... hows a fiver sound ... bit steep says I..... we setteld on £3


bet the old man was pleased )

 

[Sparky Ninja]

why bother with a wander lead as on the test sheets you can put the r1 +r2 results also alot quicker !!

What method do you use to verify continuity of bonding conductors?

 

[Johnny-G]

One of these and an extension reel R2 WANDER LEAD / WANDERING LEAD ADAPTER SOCKET on eBay (end time 23-Jul-10 20:31:12 BST)

 

[ringer]

How about this 1.5mm single? Could I use the left overs for supplementary bonding, or is it a bit on the small side for use as bonding?

 

[rodney12]

I've had trouble with kewtech and fluke meters where the auto null option doesn't work reliably (have to admit my megger seems fine though). So just down to personal choice

i know on my fluke mft it stops auto nulling when the battery voltage gets down to a certain level

 

[cbw]

Roll of 4mm earth used for sup bonding

 

[Smugley]

I have to voice up here. I bought one of the proper Kewtech 50m wander leads and I'm very happy I did - I use it regularly for fault finding, identifying conductors and earth continuity checks. Personally I think it was money well spent as 50m of good fine-strand flexible cable is not cheap anyway and I could not imagine using single core. It would get tangled, tripped over, and be a right pain to use. This one rolls in and out like a salamander's tongue.

 

[GStueyXR]

This one rolls in and out like a salamander's tongue.

Nice analogy....

 

[ringer]

I have to voice up here. I bought one of the proper Kewtech 50m wander leads and I'm very happy I did - I use it regularly for fault finding, identifying conductors and earth continuity checks. Personally I think it was money well spent as 50m of good fine-strand flexible cable is not cheap anyway and I could not imagine using single core. It would get tangled, tripped over, and be a right pain to use. This one rolls in and out like a salamander's tongue.

So is 50m about right for domestics? Am trying to decide between 30m and 50m. Am thinking 50m would be too long most of the time but on the odd occasion it might just be needed. How often do you use the full length?

 

[GStueyXR]

How often do you use the full length?

This is a public forum

Better to buy the 50m in case you do need it eh!

 

[rossinator]

This is a public forum

Better to buy the 50m in case you do need it eh!

The extra 20m of cable on the reel makes no difference really to the size/weight so well worth having in case. I scoured the internet, I ended up buying mine here Kewtech ACC50MTL Test Lead Extension Reel - Janico Online look at the price! Delivery very reasonable, superb next day service, plus I bought some other kewtech goodies as they were a bargain, including KewProve proving unit with voltage tester unit for £62... which I upgraded to the kewvolt 2 to get extra low voltage readings...

 

[cegsdj]

low ohm test at the fuse board across PN&E check for inter connection then connect out P&E at sockets. resistance should be about double of phase and neutral ring tests at the board as a general rule ( obviously an abridged version of the test but you should get my meaning )