Testing protective conductors, lightning conductors and grounding is an important but often tedious task. With the Wheel-e, Electro PJP offer a very practical and comfortable solution. With a hip belt, a 30m cable reel, good accessories and an intuitive operation, test work can be carried out quickly and efficiently.
The tool at a glance
The continuity tester, designed as a low-resistance measuring instrument, operates with a measuring current of 200 mA with automatic reversal polarity. The device is designed for electrical systems with a rated voltage of up to 500 V (CAT III 600V and CAT IV 300 V) and operates with an accuracy of +/- 10% and +/- 20mΩ in the range of 0-2 ohms (the entire measuring range covers 0-20 ohms).Power is supplied by four AA batteries, which last for about 10,000 measurements. The display has a battery indicator.
Room to move
The comfortable lap belt means a hand is free to open doors, move any devices to be tested or change the settings on the Wheel-e. Settings can be altered easily via a single switch. The 30m long test lead allows for freedom of movement and flexible measurements. The cable unrolls itself whilst running and can be rolled up again by using a small crank.
Putting the Wheel-e into operation
The Wheel-e can be operated easily via a single button. Holding the button down turns the Wheel-e on or off. After switching it on, the device is calibrated by short-circuiting the test lead and pressing the button twice. If the calibration process is successful, it will indicate this by two short beeps and one long beep, lasting less than a minute. Pressing the button once switches the acoustic signals on or off.
Once the Wheel-e has been calibrated, it can be connected to the reference line; for example, the protective earth of a power outlet. Depending on the application, there are various options for this. Both a measuring adapter with alligator clip and a measuring adapter for earthing contact sockets are included with the device, which can be used to connect the Wheel-e to the protective conductor. Other PE measuring adapters for other socket systems are available.
The simple test probe has a practical spiral cable for all directly accessible contacts. For measurements on ceiling lamps or other hard-to-reach installations, there is a telescopic probe with a length of 0.5m (retracted) to 0.85m (fully extended). The telescopic probe set also includes a handy carrying bag.
Take measurements with the continuity tester
In order to take a measurement, simply hold the test probe to the line that needs to be tested. The measuring process starts immediately. If the resistance is less than 1 ohm, and the line is OK, a single beep will sound. This makes taking measurements quick, as there is no need to constantly check the value on the display.If the resistance is greater than 1 ohm, there will be no audible signal and the display will light red instead of blue. In both cases, the measured value is displayed. If the measurement is being carried out in rooms where audible signals are disturbing – such as a busy office – you can turn it on and off with a short press of the control key.
The Wheel-e is attached to a hip belt so you can easily read the display. If the user comes across a voltage-carrying line during measurement, this is indicated by rapid, continuous beeping and a red illuminated display.
Comfortable operation and safe measurements
You can also check the protective conductor of an electrical appliance, such as a hot plate, without having to find and check the long cable. A separate AUX connection allows the crocodile clip or another probe to be easily connected. This is then connected to the electrical device. The Wheel-e uses this as a new reference point. Once complete, remove the plug from the AUX port and continue the measurements with the original reference.
The insulated 30m cable has a white coloured coating under the green sheath. This is a sign that the insulation layer has been worn away through mechanical stress and it should be replaced. The replacement can be made there and then in just a few minutes. First, undo three screws, insert the new cable, plug in the middle and close the case again.
The cable itself is sturdy enough to withstand the usual stresses of everyday use, but at the same time, it can easily be severed in hazardous situations (such as when the cable is caught in a machine).
Images: reichelt
