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• • • INDUSTRIAL PLUGS & SOCKETS • • •


Choosing the right socket tester A


By Paul Wilson, Socket Testing at Martindale Electric


ll socket testers check that the earth, live and neutral are the right way round (called polarity testing). Some offer added features


– they may include a buzzer in addition to LEDs to indicate a good socket or they may show a combination of indicators to identify which particular fault type is present. There is one fault that a socket tester and


indeed no other piece of equipment can easily find – the swapping of the Earth and Neutral wires. This is because the earth and neutral are common at the substation, (if not closer), so electrically they are indistinguishable. When selecting a socket tester it’s important to


understand the different types available and their capabilities and limitations.


SOCKET TESTER CATEGORIES


There are 3 main categories of socket testers, simple, advanced and professional, summarised in the following table. The key differentiator is in the ability to measure and display either ranges or numerical values for earth fault loop impedance. All socket testers will show the absence of an


Earth; the Martindale EZ150 will show you how good your earth is and the EZ2500 will give you numerical values for certification and reporting. This differentiation is important as some simple


socket testers on the market have been seen to show an earth as good even when the impedance is as high as 500kΩ. As 0.5MΩ (500 kΩ) is normally considered a good insulation level, it’s clear that in this case the “protective” earth will not protect. A reliable earth loop impedance measurement is


important to ensure that the over current protection devices achieve a fast enough disconnection time to avoid electrocution. In the case of an earth fault, loop impedance values must be less than those specified in the BS7671 Wiring Regulations Amendment 3:2015. Earth loop values higher than a few ohms can cause problems with


professional audio and broadcast equipment their industry standard ¼” S1VS series of compact vertical PCB mounting jack sockets with a range of switching contacts.


The high quality ¼″ (6.35mm) jack sockets


feature a threaded metal “nose” for rugged through-panel mounting, secure connection of locking plugs and grounding to system chassis, have a durable nylon body for superior performance and are supplied with mounting hardware unassembled. Four versions of these tip-ring-sleeve (TRS) jack


sockets are available offering different switching options; Stereo models FM6700 with normally closed contacts for tip and ring, FM6701 with


40 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • NOVEMBER 2020


JACK SOCKETS OFFER SWITCHING OPTIONS C


liff Electronics, which design, develop and manufactur connectors and test equipment, offers manufacturers of


closed contact at tip only, FM7603 with no switching and mono version FM6704 with a normally closed contact at the tip. Solder connection or PCB mounting is facilitated by a multi-purpose tag which simplifies product design and manufacturing inventory. Key specifications of the Cliff S1VS series of jack


sockets include minimum life expectancy of 10,000+operations, operating temperature from - 10⁰C to +70⁰C, maximum contact current 5A and minimum withstand voltage of 1000VDC minimum. The compact vertical mounting design has a 24mm stand-off to provide high packing density and the body is designed for auto-insertion. All versions of Cliff’s ¼” jack sockets are in full production and available direct from Cliff.


CLIFF ELECTRONICS cliffuk.co.uk


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


disconnection times and therefore socket testers capable of indicating earth loop impedance values in this range reveal a lot more about the electrical safety of the installation than just an LED fault indicator. The Martindale EZ150 and EZ2500 have this capability built-in.


17TH EDITION TESTING AND VERIFICATION


It’s important to appreciate that socket testers are not an alternative to the full verification of wiring installations. However as a first line indicator to identify potentially unsafe installations and wiring faults, socket testers offer a fast and effective solution when properly specified. They can also be


particularly useful as a service tool in identifying potentially unsafe conditions prior to carrying out work on existing installations and appliances. For more information on the use of socket testers including their benefits and limitations, see the application notes. For information on professional loop testers and


multifunction testers suitable for carrying out all the tests needed to verify the safety of domestic, commercial and industrial wiring installations according to Amendment 3 of the 17th Edition Wiring Regulations, see our ET4000/4500 multifunction installation testers.


MARTINDALE ELECTRIC 01923 441 717 martindale-electric.co.uk


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