Insulation resistance testing in real-world fault finding, how do you guys actually do it?
Hey legends, after a bit of advice.
I’m a bit embarrassed to admit I’ve never really done insulation resistance testing outside of TAFE. The company I work for has never used an IR tester and doesn’t even own one, so I’ve basically just done all fault finding with a multimeter up until now.
I’ve recently started learning more about IR testing (mainly for fault finding) and I’m about to buy a tester and start using it properly. Bit of a gap in my skillset I’m trying to fix.
I’ve heard IR testing can potentially damage certain equipment/loads, so I understand the importance of isolating things, I’ll mainly be using 500V for residential work.
My question is: in real-world fault finding, do you actually disconnect things like dimmers, LED drivers, appliances, etc every time you IR a sub-circuit? Or is there a more practical approach people use? It seems like it could get very time consuming depending on the job, especially if you’re chasing a fault rather than doing compliance testing.
Also looking at buying my first tester, debating between the Klein ET600 and the Kyoritsu 3132A. Any clear winner or preference between the two in real use?
Appreciate any advice.