The multifunction tester is well known in the industry as the most important tool in an electrician’s tool kit. As the name suggests, a multifunction tester is an instrument that can be used for several basic functions, all of which are essential to standard testing programmes and systems.
Using a multifunction tester you can test low voltage circuits, which allows you to:
- Check the safety of circuits in domestic, commercial and industrial applications
- Ensure that fixed wiring is properly installed
- Ensure that wiring meets required standards
What can I use a multifunction tester for?
More specifically, the tests a multifunction tester carries out, usually will include:
- Continuity tests (or low ohms resistance tests) – here the multifunction tester is used to diagnose any breakdown of the insulation in the electrical system, for example in wires, transformers and motors
- Insulation resistance tests (or high ohms resistance tests)
- Earth fault loop impedance tests – here the multifunction tester acts as a quick and simple method of testing for an electrical circuit's ability to engage protective devices, such as circuit breakers, fuses and RCDs
- Prospective short-circuit current tests
- Earth electrode tests
- RCD tests – residual circuit devices are designed to disconnect quickly to avoid electric shock and to avoid other issues such as current leaks which could lead to fire
- Resistance measurement of grounding systems - here the multifunction tester can carry out a verification test to confirm that a system has low enough resistance, in order to provide protection to people and equipment
- Test electric vehicle charging points
- Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing)
Who are multifunction testers most useful to?
We have learnt that the multifunction tester covers a wide range of basic electrical tests, so the instrument can be useful to any electrical contractor who is involved in installations testing, but also to any electrical engineer or electrical tester who covers a number of testing disciplines and needs to save time and money while doing so.
The practical and convenient features of multifunction testers, such as the large LCD display screens, make them so useful, because you can see results easily and are not continually fishing around in your tool box for different instruments, you only need to keep one to hand. On a job where many different tests are required and time is tight, this can be crucial to meeting deadlines and doing so safely and accurately.
Additional features such as Bluetooth and being able to store and transfer results and data to a smartphone or laptop allow users to work with the results for analysis and reporting also.
Of course, because the multifunction tester is integral to the work an electrical tester does, it is an important investment and you need to choose carefully. For this reason, the TIS MFT-Pro is one of the most popular multifunction testers in the industry. Our award-winning MFT-Pro has become the essential tool for many electrical testers, so see for yourself how practical and functional the instrument is, by contacting our sales department today.