Reviewing a new multifunction tester *Update below* A firmware update has been released which increases the resistance scale to 1999 Ohm: • MFT PRO Firmware Update
did you ever do the metrel test? I've just repaired a couple of my megger 1730s and now one is miles over on continuity and a bit under on the loop test, so not sure what to do with it next.
Figured out the strap spaghetti, the neckstrap bit goes to the top holes in the MFT, the WAIST strap goes around the keg to the bottom two clip points.
RE Opto interface - I think you may find the data interface is optically isolated for type / Cat Compliance - my fluke scope meter has same setup so that it has no reference to ground / potential paths for stray currents, perhaps for use when data logging power quality whilst connected etc. P.S Excellent highly informative content
That's an interesting point, thanks James. I need to do a follow-up video as I now have the expensive clamp accessory and have since upgraded the firmware for better functionality!
Hi, David,, finally upgraded my tester yesterday.. went for TIS Pro.. mainly because i watched this video couple of times.. only used it twice so far.. but really like it even due to higher price bracket. Just wanted to say thanks .. as it was very helpful for me..
thank you David, always informative and helpful video's must take a lot of your time up. I seem to become obsessional watching your vids ( cough ) are you on Tinder?
@@dsesuk Hola David! Utilizo ambos, pero el Metrel 3152XC es muy superior en funcionalidad, registro y manipulación de datos. Fluke es fluke, pero en cuanto a interfaz quedó muy lejos frente al Metrel. Después son todos MFT, alguno más caro, otro más barato. Saludos!
it probs has an optical connection for isolation maybe so you can have it connected to laptop while testing without the danger of the laptop becoming live should anything go wrong?? or maybe just ass covering?
No, that's for setting a pass limit parameter rather than a full scale range, however TIS issued a firmware update a few months after I filmed this which raises the limit to 1999 Ohms making it much more useful. There's a follow-up video on that. In fact, it is now so useful, I carry it in my daily work toolbox as shown in yet another video on the Ultimate Electrician's Toolbox!
Got quoted £1250 including the dreaded for this and the EV adapter… is that worth it? The low resistance threshold is a major put off… has this been improved?
I believe USB is a serial connection, and so is optical. but not so fiddly as RS232. Yes I see the optical fibre to USB provides total insulation so you can’t blow up your computer.
I have the the original version of this under the brand name HT italia macrotouch. It’s bollocks. It doesn’t do automatic loop or continuity testing which Megga does. The optic port is for data transfer and updates. It’s a really bad bit of software to. If you have a Mac it doesn’t work so you need a virtual windows desk top for it to work🤯. I wish I got a megga 😥😥😥
Not that I recall, but I haven't used the Pro out in anger for a while now. That said, mine's an older model - newer ones have updated firmware and features that mine lacks.
Hi dave ive recentley purchased the mft pro and seem to be havimg problems on ze, pscc and pefc getting readings as high as 17 ka , any suggestions thanks
Hi Luke. I've not experienced anything like that myself. Mine is in daily use, but seems to be behaving. I assume your impedance readings are ridiculously low for the fault current to be so high? What firmware revision did it come with?
@@dsesuk yes ze of 0.01 but ive tested two seperate installation and very similar results is there a special lead configuration for this as have tried everything i have the latest firmware 1.37
Latest firmware is 1.39a which also gives you a better resistance range on continuity, but TIS don't provide it as a download; they will install it for free if you send it to them or if they're running a calibration day nearby. That sucks, but they say it's because it has to be calibrated afterwards to prove the new range is okay. There's nothing special required on the leads, it's the same setup as any other tester. Sounds like it's not calibrated properly or has a fault maybe. Does it behave on continuity when applied to a known resistance?
Works fine on continuity checked it against a checkbox and to known resistances works fine and zs readings are good too just seems to be with fault current so not good
When you say it gives good Zs readings, what's the fault current showing? These things just calculate it by dividing the voltage over the measured impedance, so I would expect a duff Zs if there's a duff PFC.
Great review thanks David. I think the tester is a bag of shit. I don't need a tester that tells me pass or fail based on parameters, I just want a test result so I can make a judgement about what passes. I like my old 3 separate megger testers mit330, ltw335 and rcd330, they're simple and reliable and they tell me all I need a meter to tell me. Anyone who needs a green thumbs up or red thumbs down shouldn't be carrying out any testing. Keep the videos coming.
As you say, the pass/fail parameters is a bit odd because if you know what the parameters are in order to be setting them, then you can see by the returned result whether it's a pass or fail. It might have been more useful if all the parameters could be set in a single test, i.e. if all the factors could be applied at once with an overall determination of whether all criteria were met on a single test.
If you're in the market for a tester, then I'd recommend you get up close and personal with the shopping around where possible. For everyone who swears by a Fluke, you'll find someone else who insists Megger is better, or an agnostic like me who gets on with pretty much any make. Now that its firmware is updated, I'd get on with this as my sole tester just as easily as I would my Fluke, Megger or Metrel, although the latter remains my favourite of the bunch at the time of writing just because of its display layout. Trade shows such as Elex are a good place to see these things in the flesh!
@@acelectricalsecurity I know what you mean, I have an MFT1552 and it's a perfectly capable tester that does everything I need it to do. I bought others just for the experience, but if your tester ticks your boxes, do you really need to change it??
@@acelectricalsecurity Y'know, I still have my ol' Megger MFT1552 which is a perfectly capable bit of kit, and besides phase rotation it does everything I need a tester to do so there was no real need for me to splash out on any other testers besides the fact I wanted to play with new toys!
@@dsesuk yeah true, I have been looking at the fluke 1664FC looks a good piece of kit, the TIS greater looks like it's made by another company HT, but who knows, it's identical except for a different colour scheme.
I agree with the usability looks quite cumbersome. I like my meggar 1730. Dials and quickly know what setting I’m on. The TIS rep has been in my local edmundsons and talked the talk. I wasn’t too impressed as my meggar does things pretty fine
David. You've gotta take a look at the Metrel MI 3152. Yes, that's the Metrel MI 3152. NOT THE Metrel MI 3125. YES! I made the same mistake. This is such an expensive piece of kit and I'm sure the price doesn't justify its existence, still... Whaddya think ??? >
Nah, that's just the list price. Current price in the CEF catalogue is £799.95 ex VAT. If I said budget price in the video though, then that's probably inaccurate as it's about the same as a Megger/Fluke et. al.
Ummmm, maybe my old Fluke is looking still looking good. I don’t like the digital menu, the low maximum resistance and with a form factor that was like my Megger CM500 which again I didn’t like. Interesting watch and glad I did! That’s a no form me!
I've not come across the CM500, but having Googled it, I think it's rather sporting Richard! Did you have the older AVO Megger version, or the newer Megger brand with the coloured dial?
David Savery Electrical Services Hi Dave, I had the original Avo Megger version and Unfortunately as with both my Meggers the Earth Loop test packed in. I kept or acquired a load of Meggers and wish I’d kept it for prosperity, but alas no! In the old bin it went!
(5:42) - *_"Alkalines"_* David. *_"Alkalines,"_* not *_"Alkalis"_* We're talking battery chemistry here, not upset tummy remedies ! > EDIT: Damnit: you did say "Alkalines" the second time there. *_DAMNIT!_* >
I did find a way to use these straps but it looks really gimpish. I also made a video of a better way but I looked very fairy like so it's not going online
It should be in the settings. It may differ between firmware, but on mine (now on version 2.05), there's a menu where you can select the beep or mute it individually for the test function and the menus.
@@dsesuk ok cool and do you have to use the touch pad or can you use the keys in the middle to navigate through the menus etc. Thanks for the feedback mate. I guess we cant be at the pub this time of the weekend haha. I have the t89 toptronic. Got it in South Africa, its basically the the HT but rebranded. However mine is purely single phase but still does phase sequence with the leads ka Jacked up. Not really an issue, but we find ways to buy more toys we don't need.
@@johanburger6109 All navigation on mine is through the resistive touchscreen. The buttons tend to be largely useless apart from the one that starts the test. The navigation pad doesn't seem to actually do anything apart from take you back to the home screen when the middle button is pressed. The F-keys relate to software functions on the screen, but you may as well just stab at the screen!
@@johanburger6109 I haven't had any touchscreen troubles and this has been in my daily toolbox for two-years now. The firmware differs between brands (HT/TIS/Toptronic etc.) although I don't know if that's just cosmetic or if my model behaves differently with the navigation keys.
(13:35) - I too had a Psion. But I'm older than you. I had the previous model but with the optional math pack (I was in uni at the time and thought this would help me.) It only distracted me from my homework. Damnit! >
Bodragon I too had a Psion, but it was badged Acorn, Remember them, they came up with the ARM chip. I don’t think they were, initially, taken very seriously!. But I’m older than you!
I dunno, it's not a bad bit of kit so long as you're only spending a few hundred quid. Personally I would have preferred it if they'd scrapped the ability to save test results seeing as the connectivity and accompanying software are so poor, and instead splashed out on a better full scale range for resistance as 99.9 Ohms is not nearly enough. Even if I were tempted to splash out on the expensive clamp accessory, the poor resistance scale and lack of AC input would still put me off using it as the daily test instrument of choice out on the van.
Bit of an ugly duckling, in so many ways. I like tools to be tools I like, almost regardless. I saw this and took an immediate hate a couple of years ago, and it put me off lots of other TIS products at the same time. So it's interesting to watch this video and see it from another less superficial angle.
I have to say, I do quite like it despite the tone of this video. It sat idle for three months after this vid was shot, but I upgraded my toolbox to fit it in, and now it's in daily use. There are some flaws, and there are some things I'd like to see introduced via firmware upgrades, but it's alright by me I have to say!
@@dsesuk Ha ha ha!!! I'm on holiday just got to do invoice and certificate tomorrow then clean house and pack. Off Saturday to France. The last 2 weeks working while wife and son are in Devon have been somewhat unmotivational. Luckily I ran out of beer after one bottle, earlier.
