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The MeasureSafe 36B Medical RCD Tester tests RCD/ELCB/Safety Switches and ground fault detector circuit breakers that are used in mains meter boxes and as portable devices to protect personnel against faulty household and industrial circuits as a result of equipment fault or failure.
Mains mounted RCD’s along with portable units found on extension leads and integrated with power boards can fail as a result of abuse, age, corrosion, ingress of water or dirt and welded contacts.
An absolute minimum annual testing should be used. Quarterly testing is recommended as a more reliable strategy.
The MeasureSafe 36B can test all currently available RCD’s by simulating various earth leakage problems. In addition, it will also report the mains voltage and incorrect wiring of outlets.
Suspect equipment can also be tested whilst in operation to provide earth leakage operating margins to identify nuisance tripping problems or faulty equipment. Simply connect the MeasureSafe 36B measure the trip current, then remove the suspect equipment redo the current trip test then the difference is the leakage current from the test equipment.
AFCI Testing
An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) is a circuit breaker designed to prevent fires by detecting non-working electrical arcs and disconnect power before the arc starts a fire. The AFCI should distinguish between a working arc that may occur in the brushes of a vacuum sweeper, light switch, or other household devices and a non-working arc that can occur, for instance, in a lamp cord that has a broken conductor in the cord from overuse. Arc faults in a home are one of the leading causes for household fires.
AFCIs resemble a GFCI/RCD (Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupt/Residual-Current Device) in that they both have a test button, though it is important to distinguish between the two. GFCIs are designed to protect against electrical shock, while AFCIs are primarily designed to protect against fire.
The testing of AFCI’s is a little more difficult as we need to simulate an arc. The MeasureSafe 36B Medical Tester has the ability to simulate an arc that the AFCI will detect as an arc profile and then trip. Only the trip time is measured as the arc current is of little concern. Extensive work has been undertaken to generate a simulated “faulty arc” current profile.
