Compliance & Precision News Round-Up - October11
This issue covers:
- Highly Accurate Low Resistance Measurement
- Seaward SafeTest Shines At Leading Lighting Manufacturer
- Seaward Cooks Up Safety Success At Leading Catering Manufacturer
- Cropico Microhmmeter Digs Deep At Quarry Electrical Safety Testing House
Highly Accurate Low Resistance Measurement
The versatile Cropico DO7010 portable digital microhmmeter from has been upgraded with additional memory storage capability and extra battery capacity.
The DO7010 provides highly accurate four point measurement and now enables users to operate the instrument for longer working periods between recharging.
Improved battery capacity gives between 50% and 100% additional testing time while the memory is extended by the size of the USB stick in use.
The data logging capability of the DO7010 allows measurements to be recorded remotely and either stored in the internal memory or downloaded to a USB memory stick for remote processing and full test data traceability records, increasing productivity levels.
The upgraded DO7010 can be used in a wide range of electronic design and manufacturing applications requiring highly accurate low resistance measurement. This includes widespread use in aviation production as well as many electronic component manufacturers and utilities companies.
With a measuring range of 600µΩ to 60Ω with 0.1 and 10mΩ resolution respectively, the instrument can measure with switchable current levels of 1A or 10A on all except the highest range. Externally recharged NiMh battery packs can be replaced quickly via the front panel to ensure minimum downtime anywhere.
The incorporation of smart battery technology further extends the operating time of the instrument so that even under the most arduous working conditions, the DO7010 will maintain performance and accuracy of results.
The DO7010 also has an optional remote control pad which allows the instrument to be used in difficult or confined working spaces.
An LCD panel displays full information on measurement configuration and a single start button ensures ease of use while the ability to trigger measurements by lead contact to the test device provides fast single-person operation.
A remote hand terminal is also available to fully control the tester at up to 15m distance.
Other features include a robust design, true 4-terminal measurement to eliminate lead resistance errors, auto average of forward/reverse measurement and sequence testing with memory for 1000 readings.
Seaward SafeTest Shines At Leading Lighting Manufacturer
A leading manufacturer of commercial lighting is now using the Clare Safetest Manufacturing electrical safety tester from Seaward to improve the testing of its luminaires during production.
Illuma manufactures advanced lighting products used to brighten the stores of major retailers. All products are rigorously tested in accordance with annex Q of the Luminaire Standard (BS EN 60958) as part of the company’s quality assured five year guarantee.
Now, in a move to further secure product quality, performance and reliability, Illuma has installed the Safetest units on several of its manufacturing lines, which produce thousands of luminaires per week.
The Safetest performs 500V insulation tests using a DC test voltage which can be used instead of a flash test when required.
This is enabling Illuma to undertake fast and accurate DC testing to ensure its luminaires are safe to use after leaving the factory and avoid the risk of damaging delicate electronic circuitry in line with Illuma’s quality assured five year guarantee.
The Safetests, which are replacing older analogue equipment at Illuma, are fast and efficient automatic digital products which record test results and ensure accurate testing is carried out in line with relevant product Standards at all times.
Nick Turnbull-Ross, Illuma’s quality and technical manager, said: “Seaward is a market leader and its products are reliable and of a high quality.
“We needed a comprehensive and robust tester which was well supported. The Safetest offers all this and, despite it being early days, is already proving its worth on the production line.”
All Illuma’s test requirements can be pre-programmed into the easy-to-use Safetest using a QWERTY keypad and following the screen user instructions. All tests are individually user selectable and an internal memory has the capacity to store the results of 6,000 tests.
The instrument has been designed to meet the needs of manufacturers that require a range of safety tests to be carried out on a variety of electrical and electronic products. More at www.seaward.co.uk
Seaward Cooks Up Safety Success At Leading Catering Manufacturer
The standard of electrical safety testing at one of the world’s leading producers of commercial catering equipment has been improved thanks to the advanced ClareHAL 104 comprehensive electrical safety analyzers from Seaward.
A manufacturer which designs and produces equipment including ovens, grills and fryers, has introduced two HAL 104s on the production lines at its factory where ranges of electric counter-top and free-standing catering units are manufactured.
Upwards of 200 of these units are produced and tested each week for supply to the professional catering sector in the USA and across the world.
The HAL 104s, which are designed for the fast and accurate electrical tests required by modern manufacturing environments, are undertaking pre-programmed single phase testing to ensure compliance with BS EN 60335 and guarantee product quality, performance and reliability.
The instruments have been introduced to provide more uniformed testing - every appliance is now tested for the same length of time and under identical conditions.
This ensures standardisation throughout the test life cycle and with bar-coding provided for improved traceability, any future quality issues can be quickly identified and rectified saving time and costs in the process.
The production manager at the facility said “From a testing perspective, it offers peace-of-mind because it produces standard test results and traceability is an added benefit which contributes to improved after sales support and customer service.”
The HAL 104 combines the performance of a multi-function production line safety tester with load and power factor measurement for product energy consumption and ratings assessments.
The instrument meets the end of line electrical safety compliance tests required by the majority of national and international product safety standards.
As well as load and power functional tests, the new tester incorporates AC/DC Hipot, insulation, ground bond testing to 40A, load switching to 26A with measurement to 20 milliamps and leakage to 100 microAmps.
The new tester has widespread applications in production situations where high resolution performance measurements are important and can be used as a manual stand alone tester with simple push button test activation.
Alternatively, it can be fully integrated into automated manufacturing systems with selectable sensors and enclosure interlocks, or by ultimate control using remote PCs and PLCs.
A large, clear full graphic display presents information either in a numerical or analogue format and a powerful internal memory allows the storage of up to 6,000 test results and up to 50 configurable test routines. The instrument can also be interfaced with a variety of accessories ranging from bar code scanners to pass/fail label printers.
The HAL 104 meets all of the requirements of the various British and European standards in relation to high voltage testing and incorporates fully isolated high voltage outputs to ensure the highest levels of operator safety.
Read more on the ClareHAL 104 Advanced Multi-function Safety Tester.
Cropico Microhmmeter Digs Deep At Quarry Electrical Safety Testing House
A high performance Cropico microhmmeter from Seaward is being used by certification, testing and inspection house Bureau Veritas to test the safety of cables installed in quarries operated by contractors.
Bureau Veritas has extensive global coverage, providing safety testing and risk assessment services for national and international manufacturing and industrial clients. The company has been used by organisations since 1828 to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and to manage risk factors on work sites.
Electrical circuits installed within quarries, must be tested in order to ensure no damage during installation and in service. A low resistance microhmmeter, with a 10A test current, is essential for testing such as this, due to the low resistance of the cables, which cannot be accurately tested using a regular ohmmeter.
Bureau Veritas has specified the Cropico DO7010 to inspect the safety of these circuits because if left unchecked, they can continue to function but offer a high risk of fire or electric shock - extremely dangerous to those working on site.
Mahendra Mistry, electrical engineering specialist at Bureau Veritas, said: “The accuracy of the DO7010 was a key factor in my decision to use it for testing the quarry installations.
It’s also an extremely reliable instrument while being portable and easy to use. It meets all of our requirements.”
The DO7010 has been developed for a wide range of electronic engineering, design and manufacturing applications requiring accurate low resistance measurement.
With a measuring range of 600µΩ to 60Ω with 0.1 and 10mΩ resolution respectively, the instrument can measure with switchable current levels of 1A or 10A on all except the highest range. Externally recharged NiMh battery packs can be replaced quickly via the front panel to ensure minimum downtime anywhere.
