The multi-function tester is widely acknowledged as being the essential tool for any electrical engineer, tester or technician. Commonly abbreviated to the MFT, it is a versatile tool which can perform a wide variety of tests and measurements to help you confirm the safety and compliance of an electrical installation. While the MFT has many benefits, the main one is that it is a single tool able to carry out many different tests, and which replaces the need for several separate tools in the tool bag, and hence aids the speed and convenience of testing.
What is a multi-function tester?
A typical MFT is a handheld instrument with a large central display screen and various dials and switches on the front panel. The instrument will be supplied with the necessary leads and test probes as attachments. The aim of an MFT is to:
- Identify potential faults in an electrical circuit or installation
- Measure the performance of a circuit or installation
- Verify that safety mechanisms in a circuit or installation are functioning properly
While there are a wide range of electrical tests that an MFT can perform, and these will differ according to your specific needs, the most popular tests are:
- Insulation resistance testing
- Earth loop impedance testing
- RCD testing
- Continuity testing
- Voltage testing
- Phase sequence testing
What different types of multi-function tester are there?
On the market there are various different models of MFT, such as the range of MFTs supplied by Test Instrument Solutions. These are models of varying size and capability, and generally-speaking, the more you pay, the higher the spec will be and hence, the more accuracy and better tolerance you can expect, along with a wider range of test specifications.
In general, MFTs tend to cater for three different types of user:
- Domestic – These are relatively straightforward instruments for testing in residential settings, and hence on standard installations with basic testing requirements.
- Commercial – Instruments with more advanced features and capabilities for testing in a wider range of commercial environments such as retail, offices, healthcare or hospitality.
- Industrial – The most advanced type of MFTs for testing more complex electrical systems with bigger testing demands, such as power measurement and harmonics. These are used by highly skilled electrical testers in environments such as construction, manufacturing and processing plants.
What you need to consider when choosing a multi-function tester
It is essential that an electrical tester has the right tool for the job, in terms of having the specific testing capabilities to suit the environment and industry, as well as their own practical needs. So these are some common elements of an MFT to think about when choosing the right one:
- Budget – This should not be the most important factor, but it is true that a higher budget will enable you to purchase a better quality of MFT. So the budget you have available should be managed to reflect the type of work you are required to undertake with the instrument.
- Tests – As a basic requirement, the instrument should have the capability of carrying out the range of tests you need, and to the accuracy you need.
- Compliance – All industries and regions have different regulatory requirements, so check the MFT can test in accordance with those requirements.
- User-friendly – We don’t just mean that the instrument should be light and easy to move around, but also that the controls and menus should be intuitive and easy to understand and the LCD screen should be good quality. Other features which considerably help the user include good pass/fail indicators, automatic test sequences and rechargeable batteries.
- Durability – The instrument is well made and has protection to withstand the rigours of different test environments.
- Safety – The instrument has good safety features built-in to the design to minimise the risk of injury, such as insulated test leads and a good grounding function.
- Data – Record-keeping and documentation is very important in electrical testing, so does the MFT have good data storage and the ability to download, share and transfer the data?
- Calibration – It is important to maintain the instrument in calibration, but for some tests you can self-calibrate to ensure the accuracy of each new test. Does the unit have this facility?
- Support – Does the instrument come with good guidance, manuals and manufacturer support?
When choosing from a range of multi-function testers, such as those supplied by Test Instrument Solutions, you need to balance budget with quality and your specific testing needs. But you also need to consider future testing needs and whether the instrument can adapt. In this situation, it is important to consider how your role may evolve and what testing you may get involved in in the future. The TIS MFTPRO is a good example of this, an award-winning multi-function tester with EVSE testing capability.
Product Demonstration
Below is a product demonstration video of our multi-function tester the TIS MFTPRO+:
Please note that this section is for information purposes only. Anyone using equipment referred to in this section must be suitably qualified and/or experienced within the respective field. If in doubt before use, please consult a qualified electrician or engineer & thoroughly read all instruction booklets.